By CISA
MAPUTO, MARCH 3, 2023 (CISA)– Pope Francis has appointed Fr Tonito Francisco Xavier Muananoua as the auxiliary bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Maputo.
Fr Tonito, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Guruè until his appointment was the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Guruè and parish priest of the Cathedral of Santo António de Lisboa.
The bishop-elect was born on June 6, 1972, in Invinha, Mozambique. He attended the Preparatory Seminary of Quelimane and then continued his studies at the Philosophical Seminary of Matola and the Theological Seminary of Maputo, obtaining a degree in theology.
He was ordained a priest on October 13, 2003, for the diocese of Guruè.
Previously he served as parish vicar of the Cathedral in Guruè (2003-2004 and 2019-2022); Formator at the St. Augustine Interdiocesan Preparatory Seminary in Quelimane (2005-2007).
From 2008 to 2010, he undertook studies at the Pontifical Theological Faculty and Pontifical Institute of Spirituality in Rome, completed a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology and was thereafter appointed director of the Diocesan Secretariat for Pastoral Care (2010-2011).
He further served as prefect of studies at the St. Augustine Philosophical Seminary in Matola (2011-2012); rector of the St. Augustine Philosophical Seminary in Matola and professor at the St. Pius X National Theological Seminary in Maputo (2013-2018); since 2019 he has been Chancellor of the Diocese of Guruè and since 2022 parish priest of the Cathedral of Santo António de Lisboa in Guruè and Vicar General.
