TANZANIA: Bishops, Lay Leaders Mourn Cardinal Pengo
Dalphina Rubyema
Various leaders of the Catholic Church in Tanzania have expressed deep sorrow following the death of the late His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, describing him as a courageous leader with firm convictions in faith, morality, truth, and justice. They noted that he highly valued the talents and charisms of the lay faithful and actively involved them in various Church development activities.
Cardinal Pengo has also been described as a spiritual leader who loved and fully empowered the Tanzania Catholic Women’s Organization (WAWATA), entrusting them with the care of St. Mary’s Visiga Minor Seminary in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam. He was also the first bishop in the archdiocese to establish the Holy Childhood Association, planting seeds of moral formation among children.
Because of the importance of the initiatives he began, today all Catholic dioceses in Tanzania have the Holy Childhood Association, while WAWATA groups in various dioceses have followed the example of WAWATA Dar es Salaam by serving as caretakers of minor seminaries in their respective dioceses.
Bishop Kyando: From Cardinal Pengo I learned firm leadership
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Njombe, Bishop Eusebius Kyando, said he first met Cardinal Pengo while still a seminarian and later learned from him the principles of strong leadership, especially in safeguarding morality and discipline. He described him as a courageous leader who publicly spoke the truth without fear whenever he observed challenges in society or within the Church.
Bishop Msimbe: Let us honor Cardinal Pengo by learning humility
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Morogoro, Bishop. Lazarus Msimbe, SDS, has urged the faithful and all Tanzanians to live in truth, transparency, and integrity by imitating the life of the late Cardinal Pengo.
He said Cardinal Pengo consistently condemned wrongdoing without fear and never remained silent when he identified moral evils. Therefore, he noted, society has the duty to correct and remind one another in order to build integrity and wisdom. He also called on the community to learn humility and to strengthen unity and reconciliation for the preservation of peace and stability.
Bishop Kilaini: He increased parishes and welcomed Church congregations to invest
The Retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba, Rt. Rev. Method Kilaini, said he worked closely with Cardinal Pengo for about 20 years, 10 years while serving as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam and another decade as Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).
“While I was Secretary General of TEC, Cardinal Pengo was the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam and Chair of TEC’s Finance Department. Throughout that time we worked with great cooperation and effectiveness, with him leading aspirations for both spiritual and material development that did not compromise moral principles,” Bishop Kilaini said.
He added that together they collaborated on several projects, including the establishment of Radio Tumaini and later Television Tumaini. Cardinal Pengo also focused on expanding the archdiocese by creating many new parishes leaving nearly 100 by the time of his retirement.
Bishop Kilaini emphasized that these achievements were possible because Cardinal Pengo valued and empowered the laity. Together, the bishops also introduced the Diocesan Financial Guidelines to promote financial transparency, which increased accountability and motivated development since the faithful could clearly see how their contributions were used.
“He was an expert in Moral Theology and was firm in upholding discipline among priests and the faithful in general,” he said.
Continuing the work of his predecessor Cardinal Rugambwa
Bishop Kilaini noted that Cardinal Pengo continued the work of his predecessor, the late Laurean Kardinali Rugambwa, including strengthening Visiga Seminary. He also established the Rugambwa Dispensary in Ukonga, which has since grown into Rugambwa Hospital, and encouraged religious congregations to invest in various social projects within the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam.
He valued and engaged the gifts of the laity
Mrs. Oliver Luena is among the lay apostolate leaders who worked with Cardinal Pengo when he began his ministry in Dar es Salaam. She described him as the originator of WAWATA’s role as caretakers of Visiga Seminary starting in 1990.
“I was among the faithful who went to Ruvu to receive Bishop Pengo when he arrived in Dar es Salaam. After the reception we went for lunch at Visiga Seminary, where I was then the Diocesan Chairperson of WAWATA. A few weeks later we invited him to meet us as his ‘mothers.’ During that meeting he entrusted WAWATA with the responsibility of caring for the seminary. We received this as a great sign of trust,” she said.
Mrs. Luena, who at the time also served as Chairperson of the Laity Council at St. Joseph Cathedral Parish, described Cardinal Pengo as a leader who promoted the talents and charisms of the laity in Church mission and development. She noted that he trusted women and assigned them significant responsibilities.
She personally chaired the committee for the establishment of Millennium Schools, including those at Forodhani and Goba, institutions that continue to perform well academically and morally.
“In my leadership roles in WAWATA nationally and internationally, I attended several meetings with Cardinal Pengo, including AMECEA and CECAM gatherings. I witnessed how loved and respected he was. His positions and contributions in those meetings touched many and were well received,” she said.
She added that while serving as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (1992–1997), Cardinal Pengo regularly offered her guidance and blessings before she traveled to the Vatican for meetings.
His special love for Pugu Pilgrimage Centre
The Public Relations Officer of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Mr. Cretus Majani who also served as Cardinal Pengo’s driver said the late prelate had a deep love for the Pugu Pilgrimage Centre, which he visited frequently for prayer.
“Pugu was very special to him. Whenever he landed from Vatican trips or elsewhere, he would first go to Pugu before returning home to Kurasini. Perhaps that is why he desired to be buried there and even prepared his grave,” Majani said.
Love for children and sports
Mr. Majani, who is also a patron of the Holy Childhood in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, said Cardinal Pengo loved children and strongly promoted faith formation from an early age. He introduced a special Children’s Rosary for vocations, prayed every Thursday at Kurasini Parish, and he personally ensured his participation.
Overall, these leaders remember the late Cardinal Pengo as a courageous, humble, and visionary shepherd; a promoter of lay participation; a defender of moral values; and a man of deep prayer who genuinely loved both the Church and the nation. His legacy will continue to live in the hearts of many and in the institutions he built and strengthened.
