In Mozambique, gunmen shoot dead Catholic bishop in his residence

Roman Catholic Bishop Osório Citora Afonso. Photo: Consolata Africa

On the morning of June 6, 2026, in Zambezia Province, Catholic Bishop Osório Citora Afonso died from gunshot wounds. A group of gunmen broke into the hierarch's official residence and shot him in the chest. The National Criminal Investigation Service has already initiated investigative procedures to clarify the case and identify the perpetrators, however, there are currently no arrests in the case, reports Life Site News.

Archbishop Inácio Saúre, president of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique, announced the news in a statement issued on June 6 and said that Afonso had been discovered dead under “unusual circumstances” that had not yet been fully explained. Pope Leo XIV responded to the tragedy, calling on the Lord to "stop the hand of violence" in the country.

Shortly before his death, Bishop Afonso openly criticized the authorities' inaction amid the escalating situation in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. On May 12, he stated that Islamist attacks had gotten out of control, and Christians continued to die.

On May 23, the bishop called for an end to violence "so that our brothers do not continue to perish." He emphasized that the Church must not remain silent when believers are being killed and churches are being destroyed in the country.

As the UOJ reported, the Israeli army killed a Catholic priest in Lebanon.

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