Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tabora (Tanzania) presented by His Exc. Msgr. Paul Runangaza Ruzoka, and appointed the previous Coadjutor Archbishop, Cardinal Protase Rugambwa (see Fides, 13/4/2023) as his successor.
Protase Rugambwa was born on 31 May 1960 in Bunena (Tanzania) and was ordained a priest on 2 September 1990 for the Diocese of Rulenge. In 1994 he moved to Italy, where in 1998 he obtained a doctorate in pastoral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.
Upon returning to Tanzania, he began working as professor, vocational director and secretary of the pastoral department of the Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara, until 1999. From 2000 to 2002 he was Vicar General of the same Diocese. Upon returning to Rome he entered the Roman Curia as an Official of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. On 18 January 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of the Diocese of Kigoma. He received episcopal consecration on April 13 of the same year, in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory.
On 26 June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, with the personal title of Archbishop.
On 9 November 2017 he was appointed Secretary of the same Congregation.
From 13 April 2023 to 10 November 2023 he was Coadjutor Archbishop of Tabora. He was created and published Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of September 30, 2023. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 10/11/2023)
