Mozambique: clergy decry cold-blooded murder of their bishop

Bishop Osório Citora Afonso with seminarians from the Seminary Christ the King in Matola (© ACN)

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

Clergy in Mozambique have condemned the murder of a popular bishop who was gunned down in his home as a "barbaric act".

Bishop Osório Citora Afonso, of Quelimane, eastern Mozambique - who was a project partner of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) - was found shot in the chest at his residence in the early hours of Saturday morning (6th June).

As of today (Monday 8th June) both the perpetrators and motive for the attack remain a mystery.

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) published a statement, signed by its president Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo calling the murder an "act of barbarism" and calling for a full and thorough investigation.

The statement said: "This heinous act, committed against a pastor 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 fundamental values of peace, justice, human dignity, and religious freedom - essential principles for the well-being and development of any society.

"We vehemently and unreservedly condemn this barbaric crime. No religious leader, regardless of their faith or denomination, should be a 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."

SECAM is calling upon the Government of the Republic of Mozambique and other authorities to "conduct an immediate, thorough, transparent, and independent investigation" into this crime.

The statement added: "We demand 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 called for increased protection for all pastoral workers, highlighting that "religious freedom is a fundamental human right and a pillar of any democratic and peaceful society" adding: "The State has a solemn responsibility to ensure that all citizens can practice their faith freely and safely, without fear of intimidation, violence, or persecution."

Mozambican authorities continue to investigate what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in Quelimane, when the bishop was shot in the chest, near his heart, in a corridor of his residence.

According to the National Criminal Investigation Service the perpetrators scaled the wall of the building, disabled the security system and fired shots using AK-M assault rifles.

Bishop Afonso's death has sent shockwaves throughout the Catholic and Christian communities.

The 54-year-old bishop was ordained a priest in 2002 and served as an official in the Dicastery for Evangelisation's Section for First Evangelisation and the New Particular Churches, from 2017 until his appointment as an auxiliary bishop in Maputo Archdiocese of 2023.

In April this year he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Beira Archdiocese.

Pope Leo XIV, currently visiting Spain, said yesterday (7th June) that he "learned with deep sorrow of the grave act of violence that led to the death of his excellency Osório Citora Afonso".

Adding he was "united in prayer with the people of the diocese and of Mozambique," and praying that "the Lord may grant them consolation, that he may keep every man and woman in his love and restrain the hand of the violent".

Since 2017, Mozambique has seen more than 6,300 people killed because of jihadist violence and one million displaced.

We are all entitled to religious freedom through Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - but many are denied it. Sign our petition today: https://acnuk.org/article-18-petition-religious-freedom-human-right-not-privilege

With thanks to Paul Aido.

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org