Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of the Catholic Diocese of Quelimane in Mozambique has been found dead in his residence after a gunshot incident during the early hours of June 6. He was 54.
The National Criminal Investigation Service in Mozambique's Zambézia Province has confirmed that the fourth bishop of the Quelimane Diocese succumbed to gunshot wounds at his official residence.
According to spokesperson Maximino Amílcar, an undetermined number of assailants gained entrance to the bishop's residence and opened fire, striking Afonso in the chest.
"The Service has already initiated investigative procedures to clarify the case and identify the perpetrators," the spokesperson said.
President of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique Archbishop Inácio Saúre reported that Afonso "was found dead under unusual circumstances that are still to be clarified."
"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," Saúre said in a June 6 statement.
Members of the college of consultors of the Quelimane Diocese announced that the first Holy Mass for the repose of the soul of Afonso would be held on June 6 at the Parish of Our Lady of Deliverance Cathedral of Quelimane.
The consultors said that additional information regarding funeral arrangements and memorial celebrations of the late bishop — who started his episcopal ministry in January 2024 — would be communicated at a later date.
Afonso was ordained a priest in November 2002 after completing his theological studies at St. Eugene Mazenod Theological Seminary in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As a priest he served in various capacities, including parish vicar and bursar of St. Hilaire Parish in Kinshasa Archdiocese, formator and bursar of the Theological Seminary of Kinshasa, and collaborator at the apostolic nunciature in the Democratic Republic of Congo, among other priestly services.
In 2017 Afonso was appointed as an official at the Dicastery for Evangelization in the section for the first evangelization and new particular churches.
In September 2023 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Maputo and was consecrated a bishop by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on January 28, 2024.
He was appointed the bishop of the Quelimane Diocese in July 2025.
Since April 10, he has been serving as the apostolic administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Beira following the resignation of Archbishop Claudio Dalla Zuanna.
Reacting to the passing of Afonso, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo said that the death constitutes an "irreparable loss for Mozambican society in general, and for the Christian community in particular, considering that the deceased distinguished himself, in life, by his devotion to humility, pastoral dedication, and preaching of the values ??of peace and reconciliation."
Afonso had recently been vocal about violence in Mozambique's Northern Cabo Delgado Province.
On May 12 he raised alarm over escalating violence in Cabo Delgado, where renewed Islamist insurgent attacks continue to kill civilians, destroy communities, and displace thousands of people.
Speaking to Agenzia Fides, Afonso described a worsening situation marked by repeated attacks and growing fear among local populations.
"The situation seems out of control. The attacks continue, always in the same areas, and the population is terrified," Afonso said in the May 12 Agenzia Fides report.
Days later, on May 23, Afonso called for urgent action to end the violence in Cabo Delgado Province, warning that innocent people, including Christians, continue to suffer and die amid ongoing insurgent attacks in northern Mozambique.
"It is necessary to stop the violence so that our brothers do not continue dying like chickens. We do not want this," the bishop said during a pastoral visit to Our Lady of Fatima Parish of the Quelimane Diocese.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
