In October 2017 suspected Islamic militants began a terror campaign insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Diocese of Pemba.
The bishop met personally with Pope Francis to discuss the issue and in an interview with Portuguese media outlet Renascença he later confirmed that he had left Mozambique abruptly,[1] being transferred to his native Brazil, because he had received credible death threats from the Government.
[4] In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, in June 2022, Bishop António Juliasse spoke about the gravity of the situation and how it was affecting pastoral work.
"We have parishes that have been practically destroyed, priests who are living in difficult situations because they had to abandon their missions empty-handed; children, elderly people and others are in great need, and we can’t handle it by ourselves.
"[5] So far the violence has caused around 4000 deaths and over 800 thousand internally displaced people, the majority of which in the Diocese of Pemba, and the Church has been heavily involved in providing humanitarian relief.