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Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop for Mozambique’s Maputo Archdiocese

Mons. Tonito Francisco Xavier Muananoua, appointedAuxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of Maputo in Mozambique . Credit: Courtesy Photo

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Tonito Francisco Xavier Muananoua of Mozambique’s Gurué Diocese as the Auxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of Maputo in the Southern African nation.

The appointment of Mons. Muananoua who has been serving as Vicar General and Parish Priest of Santo António de Lisboa Cathedral of Gurué Diocese was published by the Holy See Press office on Wednesday, March 1.

Born in June 1972, the native of Invinha in Mozambique’s Diocese of Quelimane was ordained a Priest in October 2003 after completing his studies in philosophy and theology at the Inter-diocesan Seminary of St. Augustine, Matola, and the theological Seminary of Maputo, respectively. 

The Bishop-elect who has been assigned the Titular See of Oescus holds a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty and Pontifical Institute of Spirituality (Teresianum) in Rome.

As a Priest, Mons. Muananoua has served in various capacities, including Parish Vicar of the Cathedral in Gurué; and formator at the Santo Agostino Inter-diocesan Preparatory Seminary in Quelimane.

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He has also served as the Director of the Diocesan Secretariat for pastoral care; as prefect of studies and as Rector at St. Augustine Philosophical Seminary in Maputo Archdiocese.

Mon. Muananoua has served as a professor at the St. Pius X National Theological Seminary in Maputo and as Chancellor of the Diocese of Gurué.

Once he is Consecrated Bishop, he is to assist the 75-year-old Archbishop Francisco Chimoio who has been at the helm of the Maputo Archdiocese since February 2003.

Erected in January 1612 as Apostolic Administration of Mozambique, it was elevated to the Archdiocese of Maputo in September 1976.

The Mozambican Archdiocese, which measures 26,358 square-kilometers has a population of 1,323,000 Catholics, according to 2019 statistics.

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Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.