Bishop Osório Citora Afonso was a friend and collaborator of ACN, and the charity has expressed its deep sorrow following news of his death.
Two days after the murder of the bishop of Quelimane, in Mozambique, on June 6, reactions continue to pour in, though motives for the killing remain a mystery.
The day of his death, the Vatican press office released a statement from Leo XIV, currently visiting Spain, which states that he “learned with sorrow of the serious act of violence” that resulted in the death of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso.”
The note adds that the pope “joins in prayer with the people of the dioceses and of Mozambique in this time of bewilderment, asking the Lord to grant them consolation, to keep every man and woman in His love, and to stay the hand of the violent.”
Mozambican authorities continue to investigate what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in Quelimane, when the bishop was found shot in the chest, near the heart, in a corridor of his residence. Investigators believe the perpetrators scaled the wall of the building, disabled the security system and fired shots using a military-grade weapon described by the Mozambican National Criminal Investigation Service (Serviço Nacional de Investigação Criminal – SERNIC) as a modernized Kalashnikov (AK-M).
African bishops speak of “heinous act”
The crime sent shockwaves through the Church of Mozambique, and indeed all of Africa. The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) published a statement, signed by Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo and sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calling the murder an “act of barbarism” and calling for a full and thorough investigation.
“This heinous act, perpetrated against a shepherd of God’s people, constitutes not only an attack on the life and dignity of a devout servant of the Gospel, but also an assault on the values of peace, justice, human dignity, and religious freedom that are essential for the flourishing of every society.”
“We strongly and unequivocally condemn this barbaric crime. No religious leader, regardless of faith or denomination, should ever become the target of violence. Those who dedicate their lives to serving God and promoting reconciliation, solidarity, education, charity, and the common good deserve protection and respect, not persecution and death,” the statement reads.
“On behalf of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), I call upon the Government of the Republic of Mozambique and all competent authorities to undertake an immediate, thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into this crime. We urge that all those responsible, whether direct perpetrators, accomplices, or masterminds, be identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice without delay. The people of Mozambique, the Catholic Church, and the international community deserve the truth.”
The African bishops call for heightened protection for all pastoral workers, highlighting that “religious freedom is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of every democratic and peaceful society. The State bears a solemn responsibility to ensure that all citizens can practice their faith freely and safely, without fear of intimidation, violence, or persecution.”
ACN recalls “fruitful collaboration”
Bishop Osório Citora Afonso was a dear friend of ACN, with which he had a fruitful collaboration.
These close ties were highlighted by Ulrich Kny, one of ACN’s project managers for Africa, in a letter sent on Sunday to leading figures in the Mozambican Church. The letter highlights the “indelible mark” that the late bishop left on all those who “had the great fortune to work with him,” and describes a “very fruitful collaboration which allowed us to participate in some of his interesting initiatives in support of the Church in Mozambique.”
Ulrich Kny reaffirms the charity’s shock with the news of the murder of the bishop, which leaves “a great void,” not only in his diocese but throughout the Church in this Portuguese-speaking African country.
Aid to the Church in Need wishes Church leaders in Mozambique “much strength and the Lord’s blessings so that they may continue to lead their faithful along the Lord’s path.”
(For more precision, this text has been modified since its publication on June 8).
