Tanzania over the weekend laid to rest Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, who passed away on 15 February 2026, in Dar es Salaam after an illness. He was interred on 28 February at the Pugu Pilgrimage Centre, in a funeral that drew thousands of the faithful, religious leaders, diplomats, and government officials.
Sarah Pelalji – Dar es Salaam
The Funeral Mass was presided over by the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi. Burial rites were led by the Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu.
Also present were Cardinals and Bishops from across Africa. These included Rwanda’s Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda and Bishop Charles Kasonde, of Solwezi Diocese in Zambia, who is also President of AMECEA. The Government of Tanzania was represented by Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi, who delivered condolences on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Hope in the face of death
In his homily, Archbishop Ruwa’ichi reflected on the enduring Christian question: “Why do the righteous die?” He reminded mourners that death is not abandonment by God, but part of the journey toward eternal life. Referring to the story of Lazarus, he recalled Christ’s promise: “I am the resurrection and the life.”
He urged the faithful to see the moment not only as one of sorrow, but also of hope. “As we accompany Cardinal Pengo on his final journey, let us live the virtues that please God: faith, justice, mercy, and love,” he said.
A life of service
Cardinal Pengo served the Church for more than 55 years as a priest and over 40 years as a Bishop. He ministered in several dioceses before becoming the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam. He was widely respected for his firm moral convictions, defence of human dignity, and commitment to national unity.
Cardinal Ambongo described him as “a prophet of human dignity and peace in Africa,” praising his moral clarity on issues of justice, reconciliation, and respect for life. During his leadership within SECAM from 2007 to 2009, Cardinal Pengo emphasised that evangelisation must be inseparable from social justice, peace, and human dignity.
Bishop Kasonde noted that the Church in East Africa would remember him for strengthening regional solidarity and promoting a more self-reliant African Church.
Outside the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Dar es Salaam on the day of the Requiem Mass
A bridge between church and state
The President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, Bishop Wolfgang Pisa, expressed gratitude for what he called “the gift of his life.” He recalled Cardinal Pengo’s pastoral journey from the Diocese of Sumbawanga to Dar es Salaam, where he concluded his ministry with dedication and fidelity. He encouraged the faithful to use this period as a time for prayer, reflection, and renewed commitment to the Gospel.
Tanzania’s Vice President Nchimbi described Cardinal Pengo as a leader defined by integrity, pastoral discipline, and service to the vulnerable. He said the late Cardinal preached what he lived and remained steadfast even in physical weakness.
“The Church has played a major role in national development through education, health services, and social outreach. Cardinal Pengo was part of that contribution,” Nchimbi said. He urged Tanzanians to honour the Cardinal’s legacy by choosing unity over division and responsibility over political polarisation.
A gift to the universal church
The Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania, Archbishop Angelo Accattino, said the Church mourns with sorrow but also with gratitude. He described Cardinal Pengo as a gift to Tanzania and to the wider Church as priest, Bishop, and Cardinal.
He recalled Pengo’s early years as a priest of Sumbawanga, including his work as a devoted teacher in Kipalala Major Seminary. Later, as Bishop of Nachingwea and Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, he strengthened the Church’s institutions and promoted dialogue between the Church, government authorities, and other faith communities.
Throughout his ministry, Cardinal Pengo was known for encouraging small Christian communities as the foundation of Church growth in Africa. He consistently linked Christian moral teaching with social responsibility, insisting that faith must shape public life through justice, unity, and respect for every human person.
Education and interreligious dialogue
Beyond his pastoral leadership, Cardinal Pengo contributed significantly to higher education in Tanzania. He was among those who supported the development of the Catholic University tradition in the country, recognising education as essential to nation-building and moral formation.
He was also widely respected for promoting interreligious dialogue. Muslim leaders who attended the funeral praised his dedication to the common good and his efforts to foster mutual respect and cooperation among religious communities.
Condolence messages poured in from Bishops’ conferences across Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and beyond, a sign of the regional and international impact of his leadership.
End of a Journey, Beginning of a Legacy
The late Cardinal Pengo (©TANZANIA EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE)
Concluding the funeral rites, Archbishop Ruwa’ichi thanked the thousands who gathered and urged them to continue the spirit of dedication and service that marked Cardinal Pengo’s life.
For Tanzania, for Africa, and for the global Catholic community, the funeral of Cardinal Polycarp Pengo was more than a farewell. It was a powerful reminder that spiritual leadership rooted in faith, integrity, and solidarity leaves a legacy that endures far beyond a lifetime.
