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

Apostolic Administrator (2026.04.10 – ...):

Bishop Osório Cîtora Afonso, I.M.C. (53)

Bishop of Quelimane (Mozambique)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Beira (Roman Rite)

Bishop Osório Cîtora Afonso, I.M.C. (53)
(Apostolic Administrator 2026.04.10 – ...)

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)

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)

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)