Mozambique: New Bishop of Pemba does not want to be seen as a “hero”

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Mozambique: New Bishop of Pemba does not want to be seen as a “hero”

3:14 CAT | 23 May 2022

Photo: Caritas Diocesana de Pemba

Officially installed on Saturday, the new Bishop of Pemba, António Juliasse, said he did not want to be seen as a “hero” or antagonist in Cabo Delgado, a region of Mozambique hit by an insurgency war and humanitarian crisis.

“Everyone came to make the Church a presence, but we didn’t come as humanitarian aid agents, we didn’t come to send pretty photographs to everyone saying ‘I’m in a difficult situation and you should therefore look at me as a hero’. We didn’t come to do what is in our interest, what we want; we came to serve God, to serve His Church,” he said.

ALSO REA: Pope Francis appoints António Juliasse Ferreira Sandramo as bishop of Pemba, Mozambique

“It’s an illusion to always count on applause, and it’s not a matter of choice,” he added, saying that “suffering adversity” was a part of “Christian identity”.

António Juliasse was speaking during a ceremony in the provincial capital confirming him as the head of the Catholic church in the province, a position he has in practice held since February, 2021, first as apostolic administrator and, since April, as bishop of the diocese.

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Bishop Juliasse told his listeners that he did not have a magic wand to solve all the problems of the province, which is facing a serious humanitarian crisis, but rather that, with everyone’s input, it was possible to lift up the diocese.

Inácio Saure, Archbishop of Nampula, who on Saturday formally confirmed António Juliasse in his leadership role, recalled the difficult days that many “church pastors” in Pemba endured for relating the drama of armed violence.

Such was the case of the Brazilian Luiz Fernando Lisboa, a former bishop, who was present at the ceremony.

Up until 2021, he was one of the voices most active in denouncing the humanitarian crisis experienced in northern Mozambique due to attacks by armed rebels in that region rich in natural gas.

Now he believes that his successor will give “continuity” to the church’s work in support of the province’s inhabitants.

Cabo Delgado Secretary of State António Supeia also asked António Juliasse’s help in mobilising “assistance for displaced families”.

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Cabo Delgado province, in northern Mozambique, is rich in natural gas, but has been terrorized since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), about 784,000 persons have been internally displaced by the conflict, which has killed about 4,000, according to the ACLED conflict registry project.

Since July 2021, an offensive by government troops, with the support of Rwandan and later Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops, has recovered a number of areas from rebel control, but their flight has led to new attacks in districts through which they have passed or taken up temporary refuge.

Source: Lusa