The former Bishop of Gokwe, Bishop Emeritus Angel Floro (83) who died on Tuesday 14 March 2023, was laid to rest in Gokwe amid huge praises for his saintly life of love, prayer and service.
Speaking on behalf of the diocesan priests of the Diocese of Gokwe, Fr Tonderai Sola said in the same fashion people chanted for the immediate sanctity of the late Pope, Benedict XVI chanting Santo Subito, the people of Gokwe believe Bishop Floro’s witness to the gospel was saintly.
“This is what we are witnessing today, that the witness he gave to the gospel with his life is a witness that makes him a saint immediately,” said Fr Sola.
With a sustained applause from the congregants, he also asked for Bishop Floro’s intercession as the diocese prays for a Bishop, a vacancy that rose after the transfer of Bishop Nyadoro to the diocese of Gweru in 2020.
Following the eulogies delivered by several people including the religious sisters, priests, the laity and the President of the Bishops’ conference, Bishop Horan, the late was buried as per his wish, at St Johns pastoral Centre in Gokwe.
Ordained to priesthood in June 1965 in Spain, Angel Floro came to Zimbabwe in October 1965 together with bishop Emeritus Albert Serrano, a fellow member of the Spanish Missionary Institute (Instituto Espanol de San Francisco Javier para-Misiones Extranjeras).
He served in Hwange Diocese before moving to Gokwe Diocese where he served in parishes, pastoral centre, diocesan finance office and the education commission among other works.
Bishop Floro also served as the coordinator of the Spanish Missionary Institute in Zimbabwe, Vicar of Gokwe Diocese before he was ordained Bishop of Gokwe in 2000.
Pope Francis accepted his resignation in 2017 and Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro to take over from him.
Speaking at the Vigil Mass, Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro, Bishop of Gweru and Apostolic Administrator of Gokwe Diocese, said the diocese is really saddened by the passing on of a father and pastor.
In his remarks, Bishop Paul Horan said as a well-groomed educationist, Bishop Floro “had many talents that benefitted not only the Diocese of Gokwe but the entire local Church.”
“Among his many talents, Bishop Floro’s outstanding identity is that he was a well-groomed educationist…and he developed the education system in the catholic Educational institutions.”
In his homily at the funeral mass, Bishop Raphael Ncube (Hwange Diocese), said Bishop Floro was Christlike.
“My dear brother and Sisters Bishop Angel Floro followed Christ. He followed in the footsteps of Christ and indeed he spoke, he thought and he acted in persona Christi Capitis… and because of that what we expect to see in Christ is what we expected to see in him…Bishop Angel Floro reflected Christ in his life.”
Bishop Floro hosted the priests of Gokwe for his 83rd birthday celebrations a day before he passed on.
By Kuda Matambo
English