Catholic priest Father Alexsandro da Silva Lima, 44, brutally killed in Dourados, Brazil, during robbery by five youths aiming to steal his car for sale in Paraguay.
Newsroom (18/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) A Catholic priest was beaten and stabbed to death in his home in what authorities described as a planned robbery that quickly escalated into homicide, police in Mato Grosso do Sul state said Monday.
Father Alexsandro da Silva Lima, 44, parish priest of Nossa Senhora Aparecida in the nearby municipality of Douradina, was attacked late Friday, November 14, inside his residence. Investigators believe five assailants — two 18-year-olds and three minors — overpowered the priest, striking him multiple times in the head with a hammer and stabbing him in the neck and chest.
The attackers then loaded the priest’s body into his own Jeep Renegade and dumped it in a wooded area of Dourados’ industrial district, where it was discovered Saturday. The vehicle, along with a cellphone, household items including an air fryer, cookware, a fan, bottles of wine, and a gas cylinder, were stolen. Police said the group intended to smuggle the SUV across the border into Paraguay for resale at approximately R$40,000 ($6,800).
All five suspects were arrested within hours of the body’s discovery. The Civil Police have classified the crime as latrocínio (robbery followed by death), concealment of a corpse, procedural fraud, and qualified theft.
Father Alexsandro was laid to rest Sunday, November 16, at Santo Antônio de Pádua Municipal Cemetery in Dourados, one day after what would have been the continuation of his 44th year (he celebrated his birthday October 13).
Ordained in 2011, the priest held several prominent roles in the Diocese of Dourados: general coordinator of the clergy, advisor to permanent deacons, and ecclesiastical advisor for the pastoral ministry of welcome. Regionally, he served as president of the Priests Commission for the West I Region of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB).
In a statement released Saturday, Bishop Henrique Aparecido de Lima of Dourados wrote that he and the entire presbyterate “pray that God may receive the soul of this priest, give comfort to his family and friends, and strengthen them with the Hope that never disappoints” (Rom 5:5).
The CNBB national presidency expressed solidarity with the diocese, the parish community of Nossa Senhora Aparecida, and Father Alexsandro’s family, praising his “significant contribution to the pastoral and missionary life” of the local Church.
“We pray to the Good Shepherd that He may welcome Father Alexsandro into the fullness of His mercy and strengthen the hearts of all who mourn his passing,” the bishops’ conference said, extending “prayers, communion, and fraternal solidarity in this moment of sorrow.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining whether additional charges will be filed against the minors involved.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Digital
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