Overview
- Bishop Osório Citora Afonso was found shot dead in a corridor of his episcopal residence on Saturday, June 6.
- Aid to the Church in Need and Mozambique church officials say the perpetrator is unknown and key details remain unclear.
- Authorities have opened a criminal investigation but have not publicly identified suspects or released definitive findings.
- The pope, Mozambique’s president and the national bishops’ conference issued statements of sorrow and urged calm and solidarity.
- The killing comes against long-running Islamist-linked violence in northern Mozambique that has attacked churches and forced communities to flee, raising concerns about clergy safety and local security.