Metropolitan Archdiocese of Beira, Mozambique 🇲🇿

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Beira / Beiren(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Caia, Chimoio, Gurúè, Quelimane, Tete

Neighbouring Dioceses: Chimoio (←), Caia (↑), Inhambane (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora do Rosário

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1940.09.04: Established as Diocese of Beira / Beiren(sis) (Latin) (from Territorial Prelature of Mozambique and became suffragan of Lourenço Marques)
1954.10.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Quelimane
1962.05.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Tete
1984.06.04: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Beira / Beiren(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Quelimane and Tete)
1990.11.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Chimoio and gained suffragan see Chimoio
1993.12.06: Gained suffragan see Gurúè
2025.12.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Caia and gained suffragan see Caia

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1988.09)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop:

vacant

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Beira (Roman Rite)

Bishop Osório Cîtora Afonso, I.M.C.
(Apostolic Administrator 2026.04.10 – 2026.06.06)

Archbishop Claudio Dalla Zuanna, S.C.I. (67)
(2012.06.29 – 2026.04.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Beira (Mozambique)

Ut vitam habeant

Born:	1958.11.07 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1984.06.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.10.07

Metropolitan Archbishop of Beira (Mozambique) (2012.06.29 – 2026.04.10)

Bishop João Carlos Hatoa Nunes (58) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2012.01.14 – 2012.06.29)

Archbishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves
(1984.06.04 – 2012.01.14)

Born:	1936.11.26 (Manica, Mozambique)
Ordained Priest:	1967.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.03.28
Died:	2016.04.06 (Beira, Mozambique † 79)

Priest of Beira (Mozambique) (1967.12.17 – 1975.12.19)

Titular Bishop of Ficus (1975.12.19 – 1976.12.03)

Coadjutor Bishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1975.12.19 – 1976.12.03)

President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (1976 – 1986)

Bishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1976.12.03 – 1984.06.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1984.06.04 – 2012.01.14)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (1985 – 1992)

President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2002 – 2006)

Apostolic Administrator of Quelimane (Mozambique) (2007.03 – 2008.01.25)

Bishops of Beira (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves (later Archbishop)
(1976.12.03 – 1984.06.04)

(see above)

Bishop Ernesto Gonçalves da Costa, O.F.M.
(1974.12.23 – 1976.12.03)

Born:	1921.08.13 (São Romão da Ucha, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1946.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.12.30
Died:	2002.01.07 (Lisboa, Portugal † 80)

Bishop of Inhambane (Mozambique) (1962.10.27 – 1974.12.23)

Apostolic Administrator of Lourenço Marques (Mozambique) (1974 – 1974.12.23)

Bishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1974.12.23 – 1976.12.03)

Bishop of Faro (Portugal) (1977.04.04 – 1988.04.21)

Bishop Altino Ribeiro de Santana
(1972.02.19 – 1973.02.27)

Born:	1915.10.19 (Porvorim do Socorro, Goa, India)
Ordained Priest:	1938.10.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.10.23
Died:	1973.02.27 (Beira, Mozambique † 57)

Bishop of Sá da Bandeira (Angola) (1955.07.27 – 1972.02.19)

Bishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1972.02.19 – 1973.02.27)

Bishop Manuel Ferreira Cabral
(1967.07.03 – 1971.07.01)

Inserviendo Consumar

Born:	1918.02.10 (Sâo Roche do Faial, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1942.02.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.05.25
Died:	1981.12.12 (Braga, Portugal † 63)

Titular Bishop of Obbi (1965.01.16 – 1967.07.03)

Auxiliary Bishop of Braga (Portugal) (1965.01.16 – 1967.07.03)

Bishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1967.07.03 – 1971.07.01)

Titular Bishop of Dume (1972.10.21 – 1981.12.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Braga (Portugal) (1972.10.21 – 1981.12.12)

Bishop Sebastiano Soares de Resende
(1943.04.21 – 1967.01.25)

Per Ipsum et cum Ipso et in Ipso

Born:	1906.06.14 (Milheirós de Poiares, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1928.10.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1943.08.15
Died:	1967.01.25 (Beira, Mozambique † 60)

Priest of Porto (Portugal) (1928.10.21 – 1943.04.21)

Bishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1943.04.21 – 1967.01.25)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves (later Archbishop) (1975.12.19 – 1976.12.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop António Manuel Bogaio Constantino, M.C.C.J. (56) (2022.12.13 – 2025.12.23)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Francisco João Silota, M. Afr. (84) (1988.01.18 – 1990.11.19)