Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of the Diocese of Quelimane in Mozambique was killed in a shooting attack at his official residence on June 6, prompting prayers and calls for justice from Church leaders and the Holy Father.
According to LifeSiteNews, unidentified assailants entered the bishop’s residence during the early morning hours and opened fire, fatally wounding him. Mozambican authorities confirmed that Bishop Afonso died from gunshot wounds sustained during the attack. He was 54 years old.
Local investigators have launched an inquiry into the killing. Maximino Amílcar, spokesperson for the National Criminal Investigation Service in Zambézia Province, said, “The Service has already initiated investigative procedures to clarify the case and identify the perpetrators,” according to LifeSiteNews.
Authorities reported that Bishop Afonso was shot in the chest after an unknown number of attackers gained access to the property. No arrests have been announced.
The president of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique, Archbishop Inácio Saúre, informed the faithful of the tragedy in a statement issued the same day. He said Bishop Afonso had been found dead under “unusual circumstances” that were still being investigated.
“At this very troubled moment, I appeal for serenity in faith and fraternal solidarity, in the hope that we will be able, in due course, to provide accurate and detailed information regarding this sad event,” Archbishop Saúre said, according to LifeSiteNews.
Pope Leo XIV also responded to the bishop’s death, condemning what he described as a “serious act of violence.” The Holy Father offered his prayers for the Church in Mozambique, expressing solidarity with those mourning the loss.
According to LifeSiteNews, Pope Leo prayed “with the people of the dioceses and of Mozambique in this time of bewilderment” and asked the Lord “to grant them consolation, to keep every man and woman in His love, and to stay the hand of the violent.”
Bishop Afonso had recently become a prominent voice regarding the ongoing violence affecting parts of Mozambique, particularly in the northern region of Cabo Delgado, where Islamist insurgent attacks have devastated communities for years.
Speaking about the situation on May 12, Bishop Afonso warned that the suffering of local residents continued to worsen. “The situation seems out of control,” he said, according to a report cited by LifeSiteNews. “The attacks continue, always in the same areas, and the population is terrified. Women, in particular, are experiencing very difficult situations. Beyond what is reported in the news, the destruction continues; there are many victims and Christians who have been killed. I invite everyone to pray for us.”
Just days later, during a pastoral visit to the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in the Diocese of Quelimane, he urged greater attention to the plight of Christians suffering from violence.
“It is necessary to stop the violence so that our brothers do not continue dying like chickens. We do not want this,” Bishop Afonso said, according to LifeSiteNews. He added, “The Church cannot remain silent in the face of violence in Cabo Delgado! Do you know that they are destroying the Church, that they are killing Christians? Cabo Delgado cannot be treated as a reality distant from the heart of the Church in Mozambique!”
Bishop Afonso was appointed Bishop of Quelimane on July 25, 2025, becoming the fourth shepherd of the diocese. Earlier this year, on April 10, he was also named apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira following the resignation of Archbishop Claudio Dalla Zuanna.
As Catholics in Mozambique and around the world mourn his death, prayers continue to be offered for the repose of Bishop Afonso’s soul, for comfort for the faithful entrusted to his care, and for peace in a nation that continues to face violence and instability.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
