Archbishop Emeritus of Maputo in Mozambique, Alexandre José Maria Cardinal dos Santos, O.F.M. Photo: Vatican News 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 advocating peace amid Mozambique’s bloody civil war which raged between 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, OFM 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.”
Cardinal Dos Santos died on the evening of September 29 in Maputo, the capital city where he served as archbishop for nearly three decades.
Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi also informed local media that the country had lost “one of its best sons who stood out in the world for his commitment to the good of humanity, regardless of social status, race, or any other form of distinction”.
Prior to his death, Cardinal dos Santos was the second-oldest living member of the College of Cardinals, behind Slovakian Cardinal Jozef Tomko.