# Polycarp Pengo

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Polycarp_Pengo
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Polycarp_Pengo.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarp_Pengo
> Source revision: 1355890020
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Tanzanian Roman Catholic cardinal (1944–2026)

Polycarp Pengo Cardinal, Archbishop of Dar es Salaam Pengo in 2013 Church Catholic Church Archdiocese Dar es Salaam Installed 22 July 1992 Term ended 15 August 2019 Predecessor Laurean Rugambwa Successor Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi Other post Cardinal-Priest of Nostra Signora de La Salette Previous posts Bishop of Nachingwea (1983–1985) Bishop of Tunduru-Masasi (1985–1990) Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar es Salaam (1990-1992) Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (1992–2019) Orders Ordination 20 June 1971 by Charles Msakila Consecration 6 January 1984 by John Paul II Created cardinal 21 February 1998 by John Paul II Rank Cardinal Priest Personal details Born Polycarp Pengo (1944-08-05)5 August 1944 Mwazye, Rukwa Region, Tanganyika Territory (now Tanzania) Died 19 February 2026(2026-02-19) (aged 81) Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Buried Pugu, Dar Es Salaam Motto Ecce ego domine (Here I am, Lord) Coat of arms

Ordination history of Polycarp Pengo History Priestly ordination Ordained by Charles Msakila Date 20 June 1971 Place Diocese of Sumbawanga Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator John Paul II Co-consecrators Eduardo Martínez Somalo, Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy Date 6 January 1984 Place Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy Cardinalate Elevated by John Paul II Date 21 February 1998 Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Polycarp Pengo as principal consecrator Anthony Mathias Banzi 15 September 1994 Agapiti Ndorobo 16 June 1995 Augustine Ndeliakyama Shao, C.S.Sp 27 April 1997 Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi, O.F.M. Cap 16 May 1999 Jacob Venance Koda 30 May 1999 Desiderius M. Rwoma 11 July 1999 Method Kilaini 18 March 2000 Damian Denis Dallu 30 July 2000 William Pascal Kikoti 14 January 2001 Ludovick Joseph Minde, ALCP/OSS 05 August 2001 Alfred Leonhard Maluma 01 September 2002 Castor Paul Msemwa 30 January 2005 Beatus Kinyaiya, O.F.M. Cap 02 July 2006 Isaac Amani Massawe 22 February 2008 Protase Rugambwa 13 April 2008 Almachius Vincent Rweyongeza 06 November 2008 Salutaris Melchior Libena 19 March 2010 Eusebius Alfred Nzigilwa 19 March 2010 Rogatus Kimaryo, C.S.Sp. 13 June 2010 Renatus Leonard Nkwande 20 February 2011 Bernardin Francis Mfumbusa 15 May 2011 John Chrisostom Ndimbo 05 June 2011 Titus Joseph Mdoe 01 May 2013 Liberatus Sangu 12 April 2015

Styles of Polycarp Pengo Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Religious style Cardinal Informal style Cardinal See Dar es Salaam

**Polycarp Pengo** (5 August 1944 – 19 February 2026) was a Tanzanian [prelate](/source/Prelate) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) who was [Archbishop](/source/Archbishop) of [Dar-es-Salaam](/source/Dar-es-Salaam), from 1992 to 2019. A bishop from 1983, he was made a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) in 1998.

## Biography

Polycarp Pengo was born on 5 August 1944. He was ordained a priest in 1971 by Bishop Charles Msakila.[1] He studied Moral Theology in Rome at the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University), obtaining a doctorate in 1977. He taught Moral theology in [Kipalapala](/source/Kipalapala) Theological Seminary for a short time, and then became the first Rector of [Segerea](/source/Segerea) Theological Seminary in Dar-es-Salaam up to 1983.

He was made Bishop of [Nachingwea](/source/Nachingwea) (now [Lindi](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Lindi)) in 1983,[2] and of [Tunduru-Masasi](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Tunduru%E2%80%93Masasi) in 1985.

In 1990 he was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, and in 1992 he became [Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam](/source/Archdiocese_of_Dar-es-Salaam), following the resignation of Cardinal [Laurean Rugambwa](/source/Laurean_Rugambwa).[2]

Pengo was proclaimed a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 21 February 1998. Pengo was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2005) who participated in the [2005 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2005) that elected [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) and in the [2013 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2013) that elected [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis).[1]

He had the following [Curial](/source/Roman_Curia) Memberships: [Evangelization of the Peoples, Doctrine of Faith](/source/Congregation_for_the_Evangelization_of_Peoples) (congregations); [Interreligious Dialogue](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Interreligious_Dialogue); Culture (councils); Special Council for Africa of the General of the Synod of Bishops.

From 2007 he was president of the SECAM ([Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar](/source/Symposium_of_Episcopal_Conferences_of_Africa_and_Madagascar)).[3]

On 18 September 2012, he was appointed by [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) as a Synod Father for the October 2012 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the [Synod of Bishops](/source/Synod_of_Bishops_(Catholic)).[4]

[Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) accepted his retirement as archbishop on 15 August 2019.[5]

On 19 February 2026, Pengo died while receiving treatment at the [Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute](/source/Jakaya_Kikwete_Cardiac_Institute) (JKCI). He was 81.[6]

## Views

### Homosexuality

In 2000, Pengo hit out at the commission of homosexual acts, saying it was one of the most heinous sins on earth.[7]

### Clashes in Tanzania

In 2004, he lashed out at the perpetrators of clashes claiming to pursue a religious cause.[8]

### Church teaching on AIDS

Further information: [Catholic Church and HIV/AIDS](/source/Catholic_Church_and_HIV%2FAIDS)

Pengo has declared that the AIDS epidemic cannot be overcome by relying exclusively or primarily on the distribution of prophylactics, but only through a strategy based on education to individual responsibility in the framework of a moral view of human sexuality.[9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_1-1) ["Cardinal Pengo"](http://catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpengo.html). *catholic-hierarchy.com*. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_2-1) ["Pengo, Polycarp"](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55221/pengo-polycarp*). *[Catholic News Agency](/source/Catholic_News_Agency)*. Catholic News Agency (CNA). Retrieved 14 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["African Cardinals"](https://secam.org/african-cardinals/). *secam.org*. SECAM. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 18.09.2012"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2012/09/18/0522/01169.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 18 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Rinunce e nomine, 15.08.2019"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/08/15/0629/01294.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Kardinali Pengo afariki Dunia akiwa Taasisi ya Moyo ya Jakaya Kikwete (JKCI)"](https://www.jamiiforums.com/threads/kardinali-pengo-afariki-dunia-akiwa-taasisi-ya-moyo-ya-jakaya-kikwete-jkci.2420565/). Jamiiforums. Retrieved 20 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Homosexuality one of the most heinous sins on earth"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100615225538/http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_76__article_536.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_76__article_536.htm) on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Good Friday Homily"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101028113641/http://cardinalrating.com/cardinal_76__article_535.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_76__article_535.htm) on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Africa's Bishops Back Pope in AIDS Message"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100615111143/http://zenit.org/article-27682?l=english). Archived from [the original](http://www.zenit.org/article-27682?l=english) on 15 June 2010.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Polycarp Pengo](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Polycarp_Pengo)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Polycarp Pengo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Polycarp_Pengo).

- ["Pengo Card. Polycarp"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_pengo_p.html). [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070712/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_pengo_p.html) from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.

- [Cardinal Pengo's catholic-pages bio](https://archive.today/20130102055852/http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=131)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Arnold Ralph Cotey Bishop of Nachingwea 11 November 1983 – 17 October 1986 Diocese abolished Diocese created Bishop of Tunduru–Masasi 17 October 1986 – 22 January 1990 Succeeded by Magnus Mwalunyungu Preceded by Laurean Rugambwa Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam 22 July 1992 – 15 August 2019 Succeeded by Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi Preceded by Alfredo Vicente Scherer Cardinal Priest of Nostra Signora de La Salette 21 February 1998 – 19 February 2026 Vacant Preceded by John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan President of Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar June 2007 – September 2013 Succeeded by Gabriel Mbilingi

v t e Cardinals created by John Paul II 1979 Casaroli Caprio Cé Righi-Lambertini Căn Civardi Corripio y Ahumada Asajiro Satowaki Etchegaray Ballestrero Ó Fiaich Carter Macharski Rubin Kung Pin-mei 1983 Khoraish Yago Sabattani Kuharić Casoria Lebrún Moratinos Bernardin Kitbunchu do Nascimento López Trujillo Danneels Williams Martini Lustiger Glemp Vaivods Meisner de Lubac 1985 Dadaglio Lourdusamy Arinze Fresno Innocenti Obando y Bravo Mayer Suquía Goicoechea Hamer Vidal Gulbinowicz Tzadua Tomko Lubachivsky Deskur Poupard Vachon Decourtray Castillo Lara Wetter Piovanelli Simonis Gagnon Stickler Law O'Connor Biffi Pavan 1988 Martínez Somalo Silvestrini Felici Grégoire Padiyara Freire Falcão Giordano dos Santos Canestri Javierre Ortas Pimenta Revollo Bravo Clancy Moreira Neves Hickey Szoka Paskai Tumi Groër Martin Hensbach Sladkevičius Margéot Wu 1991 Sodano Todea Laghi Cassidy Coffy Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi López Rodríguez Sanchez Noè Quarracino Angelini Mahony Posadas Ocampo Bevilacqua Saldarini Daly Ruini Korec Schwery Sterzinsky del Mestri Dezza 1994 Sfeir Vlk Poggi Shirayanagi Fagiolo Furno Oviedo Cavada Winning Suárez Rivera Ortega y Calamino Darmaatmadja Schotte Eyt Agustoni Wamala Keeler Vargas Alzamora Turcotte Carles Gordó Maida Puljić Razafindratandra Tụng Sandoval Íñiguez Echeverría Ruiz Świątek Tonini Koliqi Congar Grillmeier 1998 Medina Estévez Bovone Castrillón Hoyos Antonelli Stafford De Giorgi Fernandes de Araújo Rouco Varela Ambrozic Balland Tettamanzi Pengo Schönborn Rivera Carrera George Shan Kuo-hsi Kozłowiecki Cheli Colasuonno Monduzzi Jaworski Pujats 2001 Re Thuận Cacciavillan Sebastiani Grocholewski Saraiva Martins Sepe Mejía Daoud Pompedda Kasper Degenhardt González Zumárraga Dias Majella Agnelo Rubiano Sáenz McCarrick Connell Bačkis Errázuriz Ossa Terrazas Sandoval Napier Rodríguez Maradiaga Agré Billé Velasco Cipriani Thorne Álvarez Martínez Hummes Vithayathil Bergoglio Policarpo Poletto Murphy-O'Connor Egan Huzar Lehmann Ghattas Honoré Tucci Scheffczyk Dulles 2003 Tauran Martino Marchisano Herranz Casado Lozano Barragán Hamao Nicora Scola Okogie Panafieu Zubeir Wako Amigo Vallejo Rigali O'Brien Scheid Antonelli Bertone Turkson Toppo Pell Bozanić Mẫn Quezada Toruño Barbarin Erdő Ouellet Cottier Joos Špidlík Nagy Catholic Church portal

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Italy Other Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Polycarp Pengo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarp_Pengo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarp_Pengo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.