Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
IMC
Quelimane (Fides News Agency) – “It is a mortal sin and criminal complicity to know who committed this barbaric crime and not denounce it!” reads a message posted on numerous social media pages dedicated to the brutal murder of Bishop Osório Citóra Afonso of Quelimane, perpetrated on Saturday, June 6. The same message expresses full communion with the Church and its pastors, particularly the Catholic Church, with Bishop Osório's family, and with the martyred people of Zambézia. “The persecution of churches and their pastors is nothing new, and anyone who thinks they can remain silent about it is mistaken. This must be a moment of unity for all the faithful, churches, and people of good will, who must not hesitate to raise their voices to demand justice and exemplary punishment for these murderers.”
“Osório was one of us. A simple, smiling brother, able to walk among the people defenseless, with only the strength of the Word of God. A missionary who never stopped believing in the goodness of people, in peace, in reconciliation. A pastor who allowed himself to be consumed by service until his last day,” affirms the Superior General, Father James Bhola Lengarin, IMC, in his message to the Consolata Missionaries on Sunday, June 7, adding: “His violent death challenges us, wounds us, brings us to our knees. But precisely from this place of fragility, our strength is also born: communion. We are a family, and when one of us suffers, we all suffer. When one of us falls, we all bend down to lift him up. When one of us gives his life, we are all called to renew it.” “We have a moral and spiritual duty to want the truth about what happened to come to light in its entirety. The death of a pastor cannot be shrouded in silence or uncertainty. The truth is an act of justice toward Osório, toward his people, and toward our own mission,” declared the Father General.
“What happened has plunged us into a state of profound sorrow, bewilderment, and despair… there are no words,” Father Osvaldo Coppola, superior of the community at the Consolata Missionaries' General House in Rome, told Fides News Agency. “We entrust our dear brother Osório to the hands of God the Father, our merciful Father. From heaven, may he continue to intercede for his beloved people.”
In all the messages of condolence, Father Osório's kind, generous, and courageous character shines through, and at the same time, all call for the truth to come to light and for the perpetrators of this unjustifiable crime to be brought to justice. “The people demand answers. They want the truth. They want security. They want justice,” reads one of the messages. “For whom does a bishop represent a threat? Who did his voice bother? What did he preach? What did he denounce? Why does even faith in Mozambique today seem to walk guided by fear? How many deaths must appear in the newspapers before there are concrete answers and not just cold statements? People are no longer living. There is terrorism in Cabo Delgado. There are kidnappings in the cities. There are inexplicable murders. There are disappearances. There is fear of speaking out. There is fear of reporting crimes. There is even fear of asking questions. And now there is also fear of praying. What future will a country have where men of peace die because of violence? What future will a nation have where even religious leaders are murdered in their own homes? What future will a people have who wake up every day in mourning, insecurity, and silence?”
In a statement released by the president of the Mozambican Bar Association, this criminal act was described as “a particularly dark day for the Catholic Church, for the faithful of all religious denominations, and for all those who believe in the dignity of human life, in dialogue, and in peaceful coexistence. When a voice of faith, hope, and commitment to the most vulnerable is silenced by violence, not only is a religious institution struck, but the very moral conscience of society suffers a severe blow.” The statement expresses profound shock and outrage at the murder of Bishop Osório. “This crime reminds us that no one is immune. The recurring reports of violence and intolerance that have shaken Mozambique are deeply troubling signs of a deterioration in public safety and the moral fabric of society.” The statement also expresses solidarity with the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Quelimane, Bishop Osório’s family, and all the faithful who mourn this irreparable loss. “We urge the competent authorities to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation, capable of identifying the perpetrators and masterminds of this crime and bringing them to justice.”
The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM) has released the official schedule for the solemn funeral rites, which will be held on the 6th.
On Friday, June 12, in the Cathedral of Quelimane, the funeral Mass will be presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to Mozambique, Archbishop Luis Miguel Muñoz Cárdaba. Afterward, the body will be transferred to Nampula, where the funeral vigil and family ceremonies will take place. On Saturday, June 13, the funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima, presided over by Archbishop Inácio Saure of Nampula, followed by burial in the clergy cemetery of the Archdiocese of Nampula, in the Nampaco neighborhood.
The community of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, will celebrate a Mass for the Repose of the Soul on Thursday, June 11, in the Chapel of the Three Kings at the Palazzo Propaganda Fide in Rome. “Entrusting his soul to the merciful embrace of the Heavenly Father, we will remember in prayer this zealous pastor who, during his years of service in our Dicastery, offered a valuable witness of faith, dedication, and ecclesial communion.” (AP) (Fides News Agency, 9/6/2026)
