TANZANIA: Archbishop Paul Ruzoka has officially handed over the Tabora Archdiocese to Cardinal Rugambwa
Sarah Pelaji
on November 10, 2023, the Holy Father Francis has approved the request presented to him by Archbishop Paulo Ruzoka of the Archdiocese of Tabora, Tanzania, to step down from power after turning 75 years of birth.
The Holy Father has also appointed Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, to be the Archbishop of Tabora Archdiocese
Archbishop Paul Ruzoka has officially retired on November 19, 2023, thus, handed over the Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora to Archbishop Protase Cardinal Rugambwa who is now officially the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora.
The celebration was held in the grounds of the Tabora Archdiocese Cathedral, a special event that brought together three cardinals namely Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle who is the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization in the Vatican, His Eminence Cardinal Polycarp Pengo and His Eminence Protase Rugambwa.
Archbishop Ruzoka thanked God for the gift of his priestly vocation and then a Bishop. He also thanked his parents who raised him and shaped him to become who he is today.
He is grateful to his teachers from primary education, secondary education, colleges, formators in the seminary, priests and Bishops who provided him with cooperation and nurtured him until he retired.
He then emphasized the promotion of the synodal Church under the themes of communion, participation and mission.
He thanks God for the grace, blessing and gift of Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, who is now the archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora and promises him obedience.
“Now I am under you and I promise you from now forth, I will be obedient and faithful in the duties you will assign me,” he said.
He has explained that Cardinal Rugambwa has been lucky to meet his predecessor who has been with him for about five months sharing the issues of the diocese.
“I was appointed Bishop of Kigoma when the Diocese was vacant because my predecessor had already died. Likewise, here in Tabora too. I did not get a chance to be handed over the diocese by my predecessor. But Archbishop Rugambwa has found me and we have already done some meetings together and guided each other. So, he will do well,” the auxiliary Archbishop Ruzoka said.
During his Homily, the retired Archbishop of Dar es Salaam His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo said that Bishop Ruzoka has been a blessing to the Church of Tanzania while insisting him that he is not yet done with the ministry because retirement is just formalities of human life that when he reaches the age of 75, he retires.
“You have retired administering the archdiocese but you have not finished the journey yet. Continue to cooperate with your successor, advise, direct the plan together with gentleness, humility without restraint because he will listen, measure, judge and act.
He has also congratulated the Archbishop Cardinal Rugambwa for inheriting the Diocese while saying that he has been blessed to see his successor.
“Seeing your heir is a blessing given to you by God, so don’t miss using it. Listen, measure and implement what you think is appropriate because the good fruits of the work that will be seen here in Tabora will be yours as the Archbishop.
You don’t start as a spreadsheet, but you continue the work that has already started and delivered. Listen to your predecessor for the smooth running and success,” Cardinal Pengo insisted.
The Vatican Ambassador in Tanzania Archbishop Angelo Accattino congratulated Archbishop Ruzoka on the blessed mission emphasizing that he has been a blessing to the Church of Tanzania and the world. He also congratulated Archbishop Rugambwa for humbly accepting the mission.
On his part, the President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference TEC, Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga, thanked Archbishop Ruzoka for his cooperation in strengthening the Faith in Tanzania, especially in Kigoma Diocese and the Archdiocese of Tabora.
Archbishop Ruzyoka held various positions in TEC including being the Chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission (1991-2015) together with the Association of Tanzanian Professionals (Christian Professionals of Tanzania -CPT).
He was once the Chairman of the Committee of Interfaith in Tanzania. This includes Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), BAKWATA and TEC for Economic Rights and Environmental Protection (Committee of Religious Leaders for Economic, Justice and Integrity of Creation 2008-2015).
He once became the Chairman of the Joint Commission for Refugees (Joint Commission for Refugees JCR 2002-2008) in the Great Lakes, especially Burundi and Congo.
As the Chairman of Justice and Peace, he was a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Refugees and Migrants Division from 1995 to 2014.
Bishop Nyaisonga congratulating Cardinal Rugambwa for being officially the Archbishop of Tabora Catholic Archdiocese while assuring him of cooperation in the Bishops’ union and wished him blessing in his new mission.
Bishop Ruzoka was born on 10/11/1948 in Kigoma Tanzania. He was ordained deacon on July 21, 1974 and ordained a Priest on July 20, 1975.
Pope John Paul II appointed him a bishop of Kigoma Catholic Diocese on 07 December 1989 and consecrated on 06 January 1990 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy.
Saint Benedict XVI (Pope of that time) appointed him as Archbishop of Tabor Archdiocese on November 25, 2006 and installed on January 28, 2007.
