Rome Newsroom, Oct 1, 2021 / 05:20 am
Cardinal Alexandre José Maria dos Santos, the first cardinal born in Mozambique, has died at the age of 97.
The Catholic leader is remembered for promoting peace amid Mozambique’s bloody civil war from 1977 to 1992, during which he aided refugees and victims of violence as the founding president of Caritas Mozambique.
Pope Francis paid tribute to the cardinal in a condolence telegram sent to Archbishop Francisco Chimoio, O.F.M. Cap, archbishop of Maputo since 2003.
He said: “Having received with sorrow the news of the death of brother Cardinal Alexandre José Maria dos Santos, I wish to express my solidarity to the bereaved family members and to all those, especially in the Archdiocese of Maputo, who have benefited from the service of this shepherd.”