Dar es Salaam – Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, the Archbishop Emeritus of Dar es Salaam, has died at the age of 81.
The respected Tanzanian prelate, known for his significant contributions to the Catholic Church in Africa and his unwavering commitment to social justice, passed away on the evening of February 19, 2026, at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Dar es Salaam, where he was receiving treatment.
Serving as the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam for 27 years until his retirement in 2019, Cardinal Pengo was a pivotal figure in Tanzania’s spiritual and public life.
His tenure was marked by a period of significant growth for the Church and a time of profound national transformation. He was a consistent advocate for peace, unity, and moral responsibility, establishing the Church as a steadfast moral compass during times of societal change.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences on February 20, 2026, acknowledging the Cardinal’s profound impact on the nation. In her statement, she noted that throughout his years of service, Cardinal Pengo stood firm in preaching peace, morality, and national unity.
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She described him as a voice of wisdom on social and moral matters, one who encouraged peace, respect, and dignity within Tanzanian society. The President emphasised that his spiritual guidance and contributions to the nation’s development would be remembered and cherished for generations to come.
She extended her sympathies to the President of the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania (TEC), Bishop Wolfgang Pisa, fellow bishops, clergy, religious communities, his family, and all Tanzanians during this period of mourning.
Born on August 5, 1944, in Mwazye, in what was then the Tanganyika Territory, Polycarp Pengo’s journey in the Church began with his ordination as a priest in 1971.
His intellectual prowess was evident early on, leading him to earn a doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome in 1977. He returned to Tanzania to teach and later became the first Rector of the Segeria Theological Seminary in Dar es Salaam.
His episcopal career began in 1983 when Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Nachingwea. He was later appointed Bishop of the new diocese of Tunduru-Masasi in 1986.
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His ascent continued with his appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar es Salaam in 1990, and he succeeded Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa as Archbishop in 1992. Recognising his significant contributions, Pope John Paul II elevated him to the College of Cardinals on February 21, 1998.
As a cardinal, Pengo participated in the conclaves that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013. His influence extended beyond Tanzania, as he served as the President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) from 2007 to 2009, where he championed an authentic African contribution to the global Church.
He was also a member of several Vatican congregations and councils, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
Cardinal Pengo was known for his strong convictions, particularly his opposition to what he termed “ideological colonisation,” urging African nations to resist foreign aid conditioned on the acceptance of Western cultural norms.
He was a vocal advocate for traditional family values and a staunch defender of the Church’s teachings on human sexuality and AIDS, emphasising education and individual responsibility.
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The current Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, announced the Cardinal’s passing and urged the faithful to pray for the repose of his soul. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
