TANZANIA: Cardinal Tagle: Bishop Rugambwa is a blessing to the Church of Tanzania
Sarah Pelaji
CARDINAL Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro- Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Evangelization has visited Tanzania to attend the installation of the New Archbishop of Tabora Archdiocese Protase Cardinal Rugambwa and thanksgiving Mass for the noble mission done by Archbishop Paul Ruzoka who was officially retiring.
This happened on 19th November 2023 at Tabora Archdiocese when Bishop Ruzoka officially handed over the Tabora Archdiocese to Cardinal Rugambwa.
Describing the event, Cardinal Tagle said he it was a happy and blessed day because he was presenting the greetings and apostolic blessings from the Holy Father Francis and good wishes from the Pontifical Council of Evangelization.
Cardinal Tagle thanks God for the gift of life, mission and vitality of the Tabora Catholic Archdiocese and especially for the excellent service from the retired Archbishop Paulo Ruzoka.
He said that Cardinal Rugambwa is a gift, a blessing to the Church in Tanzania, Tabora and the Universal Church.
“The Church of Tanzania should use him wisely for their well-being because he will develop the Archdiocese and the entire church,” he emphasized.
He has urged them to continue building the synodal and missionary Church by emphasizing unity, participation and mission in service for everyone has been gifted with talent for the building and prosperity of God’s nation in the province.
While representing the Greetings of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Hon. Dr. Doto Biteko said that the President promises to continue to cooperate with the new Archbishop of Tabora, Protase Cardinal Rugambwa as he has been cooperating with his predecessor, the Auxiliary Archbishop Paul Ruzoka.
She is ready all the time to cooperate with religious institutions in the country to bring development to the people.
Moreover, the Government of Tanzania will continue to protect the freedom of the people to express ideas, beliefs and choices in religion, so it will ensure that there is peace and stability so that the freedom to worship and express ideas exists all the time.
“The Honorable President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has always been emphasizing justice for all citizens and in order to live in the foundations of peace, justice must prevail.
The President wants the people to be heard; we can differ in opinions and attitudes but we should never break national unity, unite Tanzanians and fight to remove the people from poverty and bring them great relief in life,” said Dr. Biteko. Dr. Biteko.
He has said that President Samia has promised to bring development to all citizens without looking at their differences, including water, roads, electricity, schools and also his main goal is to continue uniting the citizens of Tanzania to bring about national unity.
The government will continue to preach justice and reconciliation as the foundation of the country’s peace and will also continue to motivate citizens to work hard and with knowledge to bring about development because without work there is no nation.
