Catholic leaders in Mozambique have said they remain “perplexed” as the suspects and details around the murder of a bishop are yet to be revealed by authorities.

Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of Quelimane, who was also Apostolic Administrator of Beira, was found dead in his residence on 6th June with a gunshot wound to his chest.

He was known for advocacy around peace and reconciliation, with the Church describing his death as being in “mysterious circumstances”. 

The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (ECM) has said members and wider society are still waiting for answers, following the “heavy blow to the heart of the Catholic Church”.

A statement released after its Extraordinary Plenary Assembly posed questions: “Who exactly killed Bishop Osório? Who were the intellectual and material author of this violent death? What were the motives behind the murder?”

EMC members stated they are “still waiting for answers to these questions”, urging authorities to keep investigating so that the truth may be “a path of hope, reconciliation, and purification”. 

The statement ECM’s thanks to Pope Leo, who has led prayers and closely followed developments. 

While information related to Bishop Osorio’s death is limited, it comes at a time of increasing jihadist attacks in Mozambique, according to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Extremists declared their intent to establish a caliphate in the southeast African nation in June.