Condolences from the Dicastery for Evangelization for the death of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso

Vatican City (Fides News Agency) - We publish in full the text released today by the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches) following the news of the death of Mozambican Bishop Osório Citora Afonso, who had previously served as an Official of the same missionary Dicastery


With deep sorrow, yet comforted by the firm hope of the Resurrection promised by Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, joins in the mourning of the Church in Mozambique and unites spiritually with the Holy Father Leo XIV, the Archbishop Emeritus, the priests, deacons, consecrated persons and all the lay faithful of the Dioceses of Quelimane and Beira upon learning the sad news of the sudden death of HIS EXCELLENCY BISHOP OSÓRIO CITORA AFONSO, I.M.C.,
Bishop of Quelimane, Apostolic Administrator of Beira and Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique, whom the Lord called to the Father’s House on 6 June 2026, at the age of 54.
Born in Ribáuè, Mozambique, on 6 May 1972, His Excellency Bishop Osório gave his solemn vows at the Consolata Missionary Institute and was ordained a priest on 3 November 2002. Inspired by a genuine missionary spirit and a deep love for Sacred Scripture, he generously dedicated his ministry to the service of evangelization in Africa, Italy and the universal Church. After holding numerous pastoral, formative and missionary positions, he was called to serve at the Holy See as an Official of the Dicastery for Evangelization, where he exercised his ministry from 2017 until his episcopal appointment. The years spent at the service of the Dicastery were marked by competence, dedication, a sincere ecclesial spirit and a generous commitment to the mission ad gentes and to the growth of the young Churches.
On 21 September 2023, the Holy Father Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Maput and Titular Bishop of Puzia in Numidia. He received episcopal ordination on 28 January, 2024 through the laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer of His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Subsequently, on 25 July 2025, he was appointed Bishop of Quelimane, devoting himself with tireless pastoral zeal and authentic apostolic charity to the People of God entrusted to his care.
On 10 April 2026, he was also appointed Apostolic Administrator of Beira, assuming pastoral responsibility for two particular Churches whilst continuing to serve as Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique.
His sudden death deprives the Church in Mozambique of a zealous and caring Pastor, an exemplary missionary, a man of profound faith and a faithful servant of the Gospel.
All those who worked with him remember his humility, fraternal kindness, spiritual depth, pastoral wisdom and his total dedication to the mission entrusted to him by the Lord for the good of the Church.
At this time of sorrow, the Dicastery for Evangelization raises its thanksgiving to Almighty God for the life, priestly ministry and episcopal service of His Excellency Bishop Osório. It entrusts his noble soul to the infinite mercy of the Father and joins in prayer with his family, his confreres of the Consolata Missionary Institute, the clergy, consecrated persons and all the faithful of the Churches of Quelimane and Beira. To the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to whom he was always deeply devoted, we entrust our brother in the episcopate, confident that the Risen Lord, whom he served faithfully as a missionary, priest and bishop, will welcome him into the eternal peace of his Kingdom.
May the Lord comfort all who mourn his death and sustain his Church in its confident expectation of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Requiescat in pace.

From the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches
Vatican City, 6 June 2026

† In communion with the Holy Father Leo XIV and with the whole Church, we raise our prayers for the eternal rest of the soul of His Excellency the Most Reverend Bishop Osório
Citora Afonso, I.M.C., in the certainty of the Apostle’s words: ‘Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord’ (Rom 14:8), sustained by the hope of the resurrection and eternal life.
(Fides News Agency, 6/6/2026)

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