Vatican – Pope Leo XIV held a significant meeting with Tanzania’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, at the Vatican on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as the East African nation grapples with the aftermath of a contentious election and a strained relationship between the state and the Catholic Church.
Mr Kombo delivered a message from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to the Pontiff, a meeting that comes just months after the country was rocked by violent clashes following the October 2025 general election.
The violence, which reportedly led to hundreds of deaths, prompted the government to establish a commission of inquiry, while religious leaders, including the nation’s Catholic bishops, have called for an independent investigation.
The meeting at the Vatican is seen as a crucial part of a broader diplomatic offensive by the Tanzanian government to manage the international fallout from the election crisis.
The government has also reportedly engaged a US-based lobbying firm, Ervin Graves Strategy Group, for a reported fee of US$540,000 per year to help ease diplomatic pressure and attract investors.
READ MORE: Tanzania’s Catholic Bishops Call for Independent Inquiry Over Election Protest Killings
The October 2025 elections were marred by controversy, with the main opposition parties excluded from the presidential ballot for the first time in the country’s multiparty history. The subsequent protests and a heavy-handed security crackdown drew widespread condemnation from both local and international observers.
The Catholic Church in Tanzania has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of the crisis. The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), representing the country’s 41 bishops, issued a strong statement condemning the killings and calling for accountability.
The bishops highlighted the excessive use of force by security organs and the denial of medical services to some of the injured.
This stance has led to a tense relationship between the Church and the state. President Samia has publicly accused the bishops of attempting to “overrun” the country and has complained about the numerous statements issued by the TEC.
The government has also faced criticism for what some see as attempts to undermine the Church’s credibility, including a petition filed by a group of individuals of questionable Catholic identity against prominent church leaders.
One of the key figures in this conflict has been Father Charles Kitima, the Secretary-General of the TEC. An outspoken advocate for human rights and accountability, Father Kitima was physically attacked and hospitalised in April 2025.
He has been a leading voice calling for the government to acknowledge the truth about the election-day killings, arguing that there can be no reconciliation without confession and accountability.
Pope Leo XIV himself has previously expressed his concern over the situation in Tanzania. In a public address on November 2, 2025, he prayed for the nation and urged all parties to “avoid all forms of violence and to follow the path of dialogue.”
Mr Kombo’s visit to the Vatican is part of a wider international tour that has also seen him engage with high-level officials in the United States, including members of the US House of Representatives and the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, who called for a “meaningful and inclusive national dialogue” in Tanzania.
The meeting between the Pope and Tanzania’s top diplomat underscores the significant role the Catholic Church plays in the country’s social and political landscape, and the international community’s continued focus on the need for peace, justice, and reconciliation in the wake of the recent turmoil.
