“The scale of this crisis demands joint efforts”: Mozambique’s Catholic Bishops Appeal for Support for Flood Victims

Maputo, 22 January, 2026 / 4:03 PM

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM) have appealed for national and international solidarity following devastating floods that have hit large parts of the country, particularly the southern and central regions, leaving families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and vulnerable communities facing worsening living conditions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 21, CEM members say they are following the situation with “great pastoral concern and deep worry,” citing reports of loss of human life, destruction of property, and the forced displacement of families.

Expressing spiritual closeness and fraternal solidarity with the victims, the Catholic Church leaders say the Church shares “the anguish of bereaved families, the displaced, and all those whose dignity and future have been compromised.” 

“The Church feels as her own the pain of the Mozambican people and beyond, and she raises her supplications to God for all who suffer, reaffirming the hope that springs from faith and fraternal communion,” CEM members say.

They note that the current emergency challenges both the individual and collective conscience, calling for a “conversion of heart, shared responsibility, and concrete commitment to human life and the common good.”

“The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique urgently calls for the mobilization of solidarity from all the faithful, public and private institutions, civil society organizations, religious denominations, all people of goodwill, as well as the support of partners and friends from the international community,” the Catholic Bishops say.

They note that “the scale of this crisis demands joint efforts, adequate resources, and a coordinated response capable of alleviating immediate suffering and promoting the recovery and reconstruction of affected communities.”

CEM members also exhort Dioceses, Parishes, religious communities, ecclesial movements, and new communities to “intensify prayer, the sharing of goods, and initiatives of fraternal support, in coordination with the Church’s socio-charitable structures—such as Caritas Mozambique (with branches in all dioceses)—which is actively engaged in assisting the affected populations.”

Looking beyond the emergency, they renew calls for a “serious commitment to prevention, the protection of life, and the care of our common home, so that our country may be increasingly prepared to face similar situations today and in the future.”

“We entrust Mozambique, its people, and all efforts of solidarity to the mercy of God and to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope. May this trial strengthen our unity and foster among us a culture of solidarity, justice, and mutual care,” CEM members say.

They implore, “May solidarity be the strongest sign of our faith in this time of grave trial.”

Prior to the CEM members' appeal, Archbishop João Carlos Hatoa Nunes of Mozambique’s Catholic Archdiocese of Maputo had called on the people of God to stand in solidarity with families affected by severe flooding across the Southern African nation, particularly in the southern region.

“In this particularly painful moment in the life of our country, marked by heavy rains, floods, storms, and the destruction of homes—especially in the southern region, but also in other parts of Mozambique—I feel called, as the Shepherd of the Church that journeys in Maputo, to address you with a word of solidarity, closeness, and hope,” Archbishop Nunes said in a statement issued Janaury 19.

He encouraged Parishes, communities, groups, and all the faithful of the Archdiocese to continue mobilizing and promoting simple yet effective acts of fraternal aid. 

“Everyone can contribute, no matter how small. Every gesture counts; every act of sharing is a sign of hope for those who have lost almost everything,” the Archbishop said.