Mozambique: Archbishop decries illegal occupation of Church property

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Mozambique: Archbishop decries illegal occupation of Church property

1:30 CAT | 14 Aug 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Notícias]

The Archbishop of Nampula, Inácio Saúre, today reported the illegal occupation of property belonging to the Catholic Church in the province, saying that the situation had been deteriorating.

“What is illegal is illegal, and therefore, we must condemn it. It is regrettable to see that they are occupying land plots where two seminaries we have here used to operate (…). Seeing land occupied in this manner is unacceptable,” the archbishop said.

Archbishop Saúre added that several plots of land and properties belonging to the church have been taken by individuals and groups for private purposes, without any authorization or prior dialogue with the institution.

Such acts, he stated, not only violate property rights but also compromise Catholic Church social and pastoral projects that could benefit the community.

“We had boundary walls, but even they were destroyed,” said the archbishop, adding that the cases were awaiting court decisions.

“The people targeted don’t even respect the court’s decision, and that is regrettable. We hope they will indicate someone who can help the Church recover what is its own and that appropriate measures will be taken, because what they committed is a crime,” said Inácio Saúre, citing in addition an alleged invasion by local residents of the grounds of a seminary in Nampula.

In April, the Catholic Church in Nampula demanded the urgent return of religious facilities nationalized by the state.

Source: Lusa