Shock and grief have swept across Mozambique after a Catholic bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV was shot dead at his residence, with authorities launching an investigation into the tragic killing.

A Catholic bishop recently appointed to lead a diocese in central Mozambique has been shot dead in what church leaders have described as “mysterious circumstances”.

According to reports monitored by **cbinews.tv**, Bishop Osorio Citora Afonso, 54, was found dead at his home in Quelimane on Saturday after being shot in the chest.

Speaking to reporters outside the bishop’s residence, criminal investigations spokesman Maximino Amilcar confirmed that Afonso appeared to have been killed by a single gunshot wound. He described the incident as a case of murder by gunshot but noted that it was still too early to provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The tragic death has sparked widespread concern across Mozambique, where the Catholic Church plays a significant role in society.

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo expressed his condolences, describing the bishop’s death as “an irreparable loss for Mozambican society” and saying he was deeply saddened by the incident.

Bishop Afonso had a distinguished record of service within the Catholic Church. Born in Mozambique, he previously served in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Italy before becoming an auxiliary bishop in Maputo in 2023. He was elevated to bishop the following year and, in July 2025, was transferred by Pope Leo XIV to lead the Diocese of Quelimane.

The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique confirmed his death, stating that he was found lifeless under circumstances that remain unclear and require thorough investigation.

Authorities are continuing inquiries into the killing as the church and the nation mourn the loss of one of its senior religious leaders.

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