AMECEA: Tributes Pour in for a “Devoted” Shepherd in Africa, Cardinal Pengo
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Catholic Church across Africa is mourning the loss of His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, Archbishop Emeritus of Dar es Salaam, the former President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), and Patron of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) whose passing has drawn an outpouring of grief from church leaders across the continent.
Cardinal Pengo died on the night of February 19, around 2200hrs, just a few hours after he landed back in the country from India on the same day at about 0600hrs, where he was undergoing treatment since late December 2025.
SECAM: Cardinal Pengo, a Remarkable Shepherd of Pastoral Zeal
In a letter from the President of SECAM His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, he described Cardinal Pengo as “a remarkable shepherd” whose life of service left a deep and lasting imprint on the African Church.
“His leadership as Archbishop of Dar es Salaam and as President of SECAM was marked by his deep faith, pastoral zeal, and tireless efforts to promote unity and solidarity among the African Churches,” Cardinal Ambongo wrote in his message addressed to Bishop Wolfgang Pisa OFM Cap., of Lindi and President of the Tanzania Bishops’ Conference (TEC).
In the condolence letter dated Friday, February 20, SECAM President underscored that Cardinal Pengo was a towering figure in African Catholicism, and played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the Church across the African continent during his tenure at the helm of SECAM. He was widely regarded as a unifying force whose commitment to the Gospel transcended borders.
writing on behalf of the entire SECAM body, Cardinal Ambongo, extended condolences to the Church in Tanzania and to the broader Catholic community, while calling on the faithful to remain united in prayer.
“We pray for the repose of his soul, trusting that he is now embraced in the eternal peace of our Lord,” he said.
The letter also called on the faithful to draw inspiration from Cardinal Pengo’s example, asking God to “grant us the grace to follow his good example,” a reflection of how deeply his witness of faith resonated with those who worked alongside him.
Ethiopia: Cardinal Pengo was a Devoted Shepherd
The Ethiopian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCE) has added its voice to the tributes pouring in from across Africa following the passing of His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, remembering him as “a devoted shepherd who served the Church with exemplary faith, humility, and dedication.”
In a message addressed to Bishop Wolfgang Pisa of Lindi and President of TEC, His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, of the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa and President of CBCE, offered the sympathies of the entire Ethiopian Catholic Church to the bishops, clergy, religious men and women, and lay faithful of Tanzania.
“We remain united with you in prayer, mourning the loss of a devoted shepherd who served the Church with exemplary faith, humility, and dedication,” Cardinal Souraphiel wrote in the letter, to the Member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap).
The Ethiopian Cardinal invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, as a source of comfort and strength for all who grieve saying, “May the soul of His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo rest in eternal peace, and may the Lord console His Church in Tanzania with His abundant grace.”
The letter further underscored the bonds of fraternal communion that tie together the Catholic Churches of Africa, with Ethiopia standing firmly alongside Tanzania as a “sister Church” in this moment of loss.
Malawi: Cardinal Pengo was an Exceptional Leader
From Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) the Bishops have described the death of Cardinal Pengo, as “a deeply felt wound for all who admired his wise pastoral stewardship and exceptional leadership.”
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka, the President of MCCB conveyed the grief of the entire Catholic Church in Malawi and of the Malawian people as a whole reflecting the broad civic and spiritual significance Cardinal Pengo held far beyond the walls of the Church.
Describing him as “deeply beloved and respected,” Bishop Mtumbuka honoured Cardinal Pengo’s memory and what he called his “unwavering commitment to serving our Lord and His Church as well as the society at large.” The tribute paints a picture of a shepherds whose pastoral reach extended into the very fabric of public life, making his loss a wound felt by believers and non-believers alike.
The Malawian bishops assured the Church in Tanzania of their “spiritual closeness and prayers during the time of mourning.”
Uganda: Cardinal Pengo was a Gentle Pastor
The Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) also expressed their “deep sorrow” at the passing of Cardinal Pengo and remembered him as “a gentle pastor who always considered the importance of the role of the Church in the world.”
The Chairman of the Conference, Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa, of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, pledged solidarity and continued prayer for the repose of Cardinal Pengo’s soul.
Referring to Cardinal Pengo as a “brother shepherd,” the Ugandan bishops made clear that the loss transcends national boundaries, as they joined the Church in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam and the entire TEC in grief.
The letter highlighted the breadth of Cardinal Pengo’s service to the Church, recognizing his dedicated contributions to multiple continental and regional church bodies: SECAM, AMECEA, and TEC among others. This recognition underscored a ministry that spanned decades and left its mark on the institutional life of the Catholic Church across Africa.
“Cardinal Pengo is recognized for his dedicated services to the Church especially in Africa, SECAM, AMECEA and Tanzania Episcopal Conference,” Bishop Zziwa wrote, adding, “We appreciate his contribution to the development of the Church.”
The UEC conveyed a firm promise of continued prayers; a gesture of fraternal bonds that unite the Catholic Church across East Africa and the wider continent.
Cardinal Pengo, leaves behind a legacy of service that touched the lives of countless Catholics in Eastern Africa, the African continent and beyond.
