Pope Francis on Sunday named 21 new cardinals, including the Coadjutor Archbishop of Tabora, Archbishop Protase Rugambwa. He becomes the third cardinal in Tanzania, preceded by Laurean Rugambwa, who died on December 8, 1997, and Polycarp Pengo, who retired in 2019.
The new cardinals come from countries including the United States, Italy, Argentina, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia and Portugal.
Elaborating, the Holy Father announced on Sunday that he would elevate 21 churchmen to the high rank of cardinal, again putting his mark on the group that will one day choose his successor after his death or resignation.
During his noon prayer to pilgrims and tourists in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, the 86-year-old Francis further said the ceremony to install them, known as a consistory, will be held on September 30, 2023.
All cardinals, regardless of their age, are allowed to take part in pre-conclave meetings known as General Congregations, giving them a say in the type of pope they think their younger brother cardinals should choose.
Eighteen of the churchmen are under 80 and would be able to enter an eventual conclave to choose the next pope. The other three, who are over 80 and too old to vote in the conclave, were named in thanks for their long service to the Church.
Earlier in April this year, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Rugambwa, who was then former secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, in the Section for First Evangelization and the new particular Churches, as coadjutor archbishop of Tabora.
Archbishop 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 1998 he was awarded a doctorate in pastoral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.
From 2002 to 2008 he served as an official of the former Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
On 18 January 2008 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Kigoma, Tanzania, and on 26 June 2012, adjunct secretary of the same Dicastery 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. (End)