BISHOPS OF IMBISA VISIT REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT CAMP AND PRAY FOR PEACE IN CABO DELGADO

Bishops members of the Standing Committee of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) visited the “Três de Fevereiro” resettlement Camp in Pemba, in Mozambique, on October 1st, 2026, to follow the dramatic route of migrants and refugees concentrated there. It was on the sidelines of the IMBISA Standing Committee meeting in Mozambique. Being on the ground and side by side with the refugees, the Bishops stopped at several houses to listen to stories of suffering, loss and hope, offering spiritual comfort.

The Bishops visit was held in collaboration with the local commissions for Social Pastoral Ministry of Caritas of the Diocese of Pemba. Their dialogue with the refugees focused on listening directly to their humanitarian, spiritual, and social needs, promoting a culture of encounter and respect for human dignity. The visit also served to raise awareness and renew the call for continued action, so that the plight of internally displaced persons and refugees does not fall into oblivion among society and governments.

At the end of this visit, the Prelates once again called upon the faithful to join in a chain of prayer for peace, reconciliation, and harmony throughout the country. At the Cathedral of St. Paul, patron saint of the Diocese, they condemned the acts of violence and attacks against communities and churches in Cabo Delgado Province and prayed together for peace throughout the world, particularly in Cabo Delgado.

In his homily, Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba, president of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé, recalled that war and hatred destroy human dignity and appealed for dialogue, urging political leaders and citizens to choose the path of negotiation and reconciliation. The Archbishop stressed that Christian hope is not a utopia, but an anchor rooted in eternal life, enabling people to face suffering and adversity with courage and joy.

The Bishop of Pemba, Most Rev. Juliasse Sandramo, stressed that, in the face of the tragedy and suffering endured by the population, prayer remains the “only force” and a possible response. The end of the armed violence and terrorism affecting northern Mozambique was among the appeals made by the Bishops, who highlighted love as a pillar for building a more humane society.

SECAM News, with IMBISA