Dar es Salaam – “I met Bishop Osorio in 2017, when he was called to serve in the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, now the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, which at that time needed an official in charge of Portuguese-speaking countries.” This is what Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, Archbishop of Tabora , wrote to Fides, referring to the death of his friend and “former colleague” Osorio Citora, IMC, Bishop of Quelimane, who was brutally murdered on June 6.
“It is true that the tragic death of our dear brother bishop has left us speechless,” Cardinal Rugambwa said from Dar es Salaam, where he is participating in a series of annual meetings of the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference. “Father Osorio, a Consolata missionary, was a man of God, an gentle, humble, cultured, and refined priest. A hard worker, always available for the various responsibilities entrusted to him, both within the Congregation and outside of it, in our Propaganda Fide colleges and also in Italian parishes. He was a friend who readily shared his views. A person endowed with many beautiful qualities. Since his appointment as bishop, he frequently shared his pastoral experiences with me. Among them, I wish to share a message he sent me on May 25, a few weeks before his death.”
The following is the note sent by the Bishop of Quelimane, Osorio Citora, to Cardinal Rugambwa:
“Dear Eminence, Blessed Pentecost! I am writing to you in a spirit of brotherhood to share the challenges and joys of our ministry. In addition to guiding our beloved Diocese of Quelimane, as you know, I am also currently serving as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira. The work is intense, but it is giving me a beautiful perspective on ecclesial communion. In my diocese, we are moving forward with the plan centered on ‘walking with hope toward a synodal, missionary, and self-sustaining Church,’ and the fruits are beginning to become visible, especially thanks to the enthusiasm of our priests. Meanwhile, in the Archdiocese, I am experiencing a period of ‘transitional pastoral care.’ There, the challenge is to continue the path and nurture vocations.” I have tried to join forces, encouraging the pastoral councils of both Churches to engage in dialogue. While in my diocese I make pastoral visits to each parish as planned, in the Archdiocese I conduct them by pastoral zones, of which there are six. Yesterday I concluded a pastoral visit with a Mass during which I confirmed 340 young people. Today and tomorrow I am participating in two days of ongoing formation for priests between six and fifteen years of priestly ministry. On Wednesday I will begin my second pastoral visit. One of my priests is preparing to go to study Biblical Theology with a scholarship from Propaganda; two seminarians will be leaving for Kinshasa, while I continue to look for other formation destinations for more priests: they truly need formation. We are experiencing a beautiful collaboration: some lay people and catechists from our parishes are helping each other, creating a bridge of faith and sharing resources. I do not deny that the distances and the pace of work are demanding, but seeing the clergy and the communities embrace this spirit of unity is a great consolation to me. I entrust you to my daily prayers and ask you to remember me before the Lord, so that I may be a wise shepherd for both flocks. Hoping to embrace you again soon, I bless you from my heart, certain of receiving your blessing in return. Yours in the Lord.”
This final message, which Bishop Osorio shared with Cardinal Rugambwa, ends with words of kindness, hope, and trust in the Lord. Cardinal Rugambwa, for his part, invites everyone to “pray for this brother of ours, Bishop Osorio, that the merciful Lord may reward him and welcome him into his heavenly home.”
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