Diocese of

Quelimane

Mozambique

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Quelimane / Quelimanen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Beira

Neighbouring Dioceses: Caia (↙), Chikwawa (↖), Blantyre (↖), Lichinga (↑), Gurúè (↗), Alto Molócuè (↗)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora do Livramento

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: September 8

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1954.10.06: Established as Diocese of Quelimane / Quelimanen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Beira and became suffragan of Lourenço Marques)
1984.06.04: Became suffragan of Beira
1993.12.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Gurúè
2025.01.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Alto Molócuè
2025.12.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Caia

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Ordinaries

Bishops of Quelimane (Roman Rite)

Bishop Osório Cîtora Afonso, I.M.C.
(2025.07.25 – 2026.06.06)

Lucernia pedibus meis

Born:	1972.05.06 (Ribaue, Mozambique)
Ordained Priest:	2002.11.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.01.28
Died:	2026.06.06 (Quelimane, Mozambique † 54)

Titular Bishop of Putia in Numidia (2023.09.21 – 2025.07.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of Maputo (Mozambique) (2023.09.21 – 2025.07.25)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2024.11.12 – 2026.06.06)

Bishop of Quelimane (Mozambique) (2025.07.25 – 2026.06.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Beira (Mozambique) (2026.04.10 – 2026.06.06)

Fr. Pietro Tosato, O.F.M. Cap.
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.08.11 – 2025.07.25)

Bishop Hilário Da Cruz Massinga, O.F.M. (67)
(2008.01.25 – 2023.08.11)

Titular Bishop of Chullu
Auxiliary Bishop of Inhambane (Mozambique)

Eu confio na misericórdia de Deu

Born:	1958.06.25 (Banze, Gabon)
Ordained Priest:	1994.01.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.06.15

Bishop of Lichinga (Mozambique) (2003.04.05 – 2008.01.25)

Apostolic Administrator of Lichinga (Mozambique) (2008.01.25 – 2008.12.30)

Bishop of Quelimane (Mozambique) (2008.01.25 – 2023.08.11)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (2015.11.10 – 2018.11.11)

Titular Bishop of Chullu (2023.08.11 – ...)

Auxiliary Bishop of Inhambane (Mozambique) (2023.08.11 – ...)

Archbishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves
(Apostolic Administrator 2007.03 – 2008.01.25)

Bishop Bernardo Filipe Governo, O.F.M. Cap.
(1976.05.31 – 2007.03.10)

Born:	1939.01.21 (Macuse, Mozambique)
Ordained Priest:	1969.10.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.10.10
Died:	2013.10.20 († 74)

Bishop of Quelimane (Mozambique) (1976.05.31 – 2007.03.10)

Bishop Francisco Nuñes Teixeira
(1955.02.06 – 1975.12.23)

Born:	1910.01.26 (Beduido Estarreja, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1933.08.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.05.13
Died:	1999.03.02 († 89)

Priest of Beira (Mozambique) (1933.08.06 – 1955.02.06)

Bishop of Quelimane (Mozambique) (1955.02.06 – 1975.12.23)

President of Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (1969 – 1975)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Quelimane, Zambézia
Former Cathedral: Catedral vieja, Quelimane, Zambézia

Caia (↙), Chikwawa (↖), Blantyre (↖), Lichinga (↑), Gurúè (↗), Alto Molócuè (↗)

Statistics (2025)

Area: 57,798 km²

Population: 1,366,593 Catholics (39.7% of 3,440,268 total)

Pastoral Centres: 29 parishes

Personnel: 73 priests (52 diocesan, 21 religious), 105 religious (7 brothers, 98 sisters), 45 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.06.08

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