Bishop of Bafatá
Msgr. Victor Luís Quematcha, O.F.M., was born on 27 April 1967 in Cúmura, Bissau, in Guinea Bissau. He studied philosophy and human sciences at the Institut Supérieur Don Bosco in Lomé, Togo, and theology at the major seminary of Anyama in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. After giving his religious vows in 1997 in Brá, he was ordained a priest on 2 May 1998 in Nhoma, Guinea Bissau. After ordination, he first served as deputy master of novices in Dapaong, Togo (1997-2000), and rector of the minor seminary of Brá, Guinea Bissau (2000-2004). He was awarded a licentiate in moral theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome (2004-2006), and went on to hold the roles of professor of moral theology in the Dom Settimo Arturo Ferrazetta Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Bissau (2006-2021), master of temporary professed in Brá, Guinea Bissau (2007-2009), custodian of the Custody of Saint Francis of Assisi for Guinea Bissau (2009-2018), parish priest of the Nossa Senhora da Candelária de Bissau Cathedral (2014-2020), director of the Mal-de-Hansen Hospital in Cúmura, Guinea Bissau (2017-2021), and definitor general of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor for Africa (since 2021).