Diocese of Chimoio, Mozambique 🇲🇿

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Chimoio / Cimoian(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Beira

Neighbouring Dioceses: Mutare (←), Caia (↗), Beira (→), Inhambane (↘), Xai-Xai (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Maria Imaculada

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: December 8

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1990.11.19: Established as Diocese of Chimoio / Cimoian(us) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Beira and became suffragan of Beira)
2025.12.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Caia

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.12.17 – ...):

Bishop Lucio Andrice Muandula (66)

First Vice-President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar

Ordinaries

Bishops of Chimoio (Roman Rite)

Bishop Lucio Andrice Muandula (66)
(2025.12.17 – ...)

Bishop of Chimoio (Mozambique)
First Vice-President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar

Born:	1959.10.09 (Maputo, Mozambique)
Ordained Priest:	1989.05.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.10.24

Priest of Maputo (Mozambique) (1989.05.14 – 2004.06.24)

Bishop of Xai-Xai (Mozambique) (2004.06.24 – 2025.12.17)

President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2009 – 2015.11.10)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (2016.11 – 2022.09.26)

President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2018.11.11 – 2021.11.12)

Second Vice-President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2019.07.19 – 2023.02.15)

First Vice-President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2023.02.15 – ...)

Bishop of Chimoio (Mozambique) (2025.12.17 – ...)

Bishop João Carlos Hatoa Nunes (58) (later Archbishop)
(2017.01.02 – 2022.11.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maputo (Mozambique)
Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique

Born:	1968.03.08 (Beira, Mozambique)
Ordained Priest:	1995.07.17
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.07.10

Priest of Maputo (Mozambique) (1995.07.17 – 2011.05.25)

Titular Bishop of Amudarsa (2011.05.25 – 2017.01.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Maputo (Mozambique) (2011.05.25 – 2017.01.02)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2012 – 2015)

Apostolic Administrator of Beira (Mozambique) (2012.01.14 – 2012.06.29)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2015.11.10 – 2018.11.11)

Bishop of Chimoio (Mozambique) (2017.01.02 – 2022.11.15)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2021.11.12 – ...)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Maputo (Mozambique) (2022.11.15 – 2023.05.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maputo (Mozambique) (2023.05.05 – ...)

Bishop Francisco João Silota, M. Afr. (84)
(1990.11.19 – 2017.01.02)

Bishop emeritus of Chimoio (Mozambique)

Born:	1941.06.17 (Zuoya, Mozambique)
Ordained Priest:	1974.08.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.06.26

Titular Bishop of Musti (1988.01.18 – 1990.11.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Beira (Mozambique) (1988.01.18 – 1990.11.19)

Bishop of Chimoio (Mozambique) (1990.11.19 – 2017.01.02)

President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (1993 – 2002)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (1995 – 2001)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Maria Imaculada, Chimoio, Manica

Mutare (←), Caia (↗), Beira (→), Inhambane (↘), Xai-Xai (↓)

Statistics (2025)

Area: 57,989 km²

Population: 89,702 Catholics (4.1% of 2,204,868 total)

Pastoral Centres: 20 parishes

Personnel: 51 priests (20 diocesan, 31 religious), 60 religious (7 brothers, 53 sisters), 29 seminarians