Bishops of IMBISA visit refugee resettlement camp and pray for peace in Cabo Delgado.
The Bishops of the Standing Committee Meeting of IMBISA made a joint visit to the Três de Fevereiro resettlement camp in Pemba on October 1st, 2026, to follow the dramatic route of migrants and refugees concentrated there. 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’ dialogue with the refugees focused on directly listening to their humanitarian, spiritual and social needs, promoting the culture of encounter and the appeal to human dignity. The visit served to raise global awareness and continuous denunciation to prevent the dramas of internally displaced persons and refugees from falling into oblivion for society and governments. The event was held in collaboration with the local commissions of the Social Pastoral of Caritas of the Diocese of Pemba.
At the end of the visit, the Bishops 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, condemning the acts of violence and attacks against communities and churches in the province of Cabo Delgado and praying together for peace throughout the world and for Cabo Delgado in particular. In his homily, Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba, President of CEAST, 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 celebrant said that Christian hope is not a utopia, but an anchor in eternal life that helps to face suffering and adversity with courage and joy.
The Bishop of the Diocese of Pemba, Bishop. Juliasse Sandramo, repeatedly stated that, in the face of the tragedy and suffering of the population, prayer remains the “only force” and possible response. The end of armed violence and terrorism affecting the northern region of Mozambique was one of the appeals made by the Bishops, highlighting love as a pillar for the building of humanity. Consolation, security, and hope for the thousands of displaced people and families wounded by the conflict were among the gestures offered by the IMBISA Bishops when they visited the Três de Fevereiro resettlement camp. Alongside the suffering people in the resettlement camp, the Bishops reinforced that hope goes hand in hand with missionary commitment and the construction of a more dialogical and fraternal society.
At the end of the Mass, the Bishops asked for the intercession of Our Lady, as Queen of Peace, to guide the hearts of the rulers and peacemakers towards a just solution.