Cardinal Arlindo Gomes Furtado, Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde (Archipelago of Cape Verde), was born in November 1949 in Santa Catarina, in the diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde. He entered the São José Minor Seminary in 1963 and then in 1971 he went to Coimbra (Portugal), to continue at the Major Seminary. Five years later he returned to Cape Verde and was ordained a deacon on 9 May. After working in parish ministry he was ordained a priest on 18 July 1976.

From 1978-1986 he served as rector of the Minor Seminary of São José. In the meantime he was also chancellor and treasurer of the diocese (1978-1984) and chaplain of the Cape Verdeans in the Netherland (1985-1986). In August 1986 he came to Rome and studied for a license in Sacred Scripture. On returning to his native country, he began teaching high school English. He returned to Coimbra and began teaching biblical studies at a higher institute for theology. During his stay in Portugal he also worked in parish administration.

In 1995 he returned to Cape Verde and began working in parish ministry and serving as member of the National Council for Education and taught in the Police Academy. Until 2004 he was also vicar general of the diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde.

He was ordained a bishop on 9 December 2003, subsequent to his appointment as the first Bishop of the newly-established diocese of Mindelo.

On 22 July 2009 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde.

He is the first cardinal from Cape Verde.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 14 February 2015, of the Title of San Timoteo (St. Timothy).

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for the Evangelization; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.