Atanasio Amisse Canira

Atanasio Amisse Canira (born 2 May 1962), is a Mozambican Catholic prelate who is the Bishop of the Diocese of Lichinga in Mozambique, since 8 February 2015. Before that, from 12 December 1993 until he was appointed bishop, he was a priest of the Diocese of Nacala, in Mozambique. Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Lichinga, and he was consecrated bishop and installed at Lichinga, on 22 March 2015.

Background and education He was born on 2 May 1962, in Mossoril, Diocese of Nacala, Nampula Province, Mozambique. He attended elementary school in his home area. He studied at the Industrial and Commercial Joaquim Marra Chimoio High School, in Chimoio. He studied at the Mater Apostolorum Preparatory Seminary in Nampula, from 1984 until 1986. He attended the Saint Agostinho Major Seminary in Matola from 1987 until 1989. He then transferred to Saint Pio X Interdiocesan Theological Seminary in Maputo, studying there from 1990 until 1993. He holds a Licentiate in Moral Theology and Spirituality awarded by the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome, where he studied from 1996 until 1998.

Priest He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nacala on 12 December 1993. He served as a priest until 8 February 2015. As a priest, he served in various roles and locations, including as:

He was consecrated bishop at Lichinga on 22 March 2015 by Germano Grachane, Bishop of Nacala assisted by Elio Giovanni Greselin, Bishop Emeritus of Lichinga and Lucio Andrice Muandula, Bishop of Xai-Xai. Bishop Atanasio Amisse Canira is the chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons (CEMIRDE) of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique.