# Protase Rugambwa

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Tanzanian prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1960)

His Eminence Protase Rugambwa Cardinal, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora Rugambwa in 2023. Church Catholic Church Archdiocese Tabora See Tabora Appointed 13 April 2023 (coadjutor) Installed 10 November 2023 Predecessor Paul R. Ruzoka Other post Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria in Montesanto (2023–) Previous posts Vicar General of Rulenge (2002-04) Bishop of Kigoma (2008-12) Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2012-17) President of the Pontifical Mission Societies (2012-17) Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2017–23) Vice-Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University (2017–23) Orders Ordination 2 September 1990 by Pope John Paul II Consecration 13 April 2008 by Polycarp Pengo Created cardinal 30 September 2023 by Pope Francis Rank Cardinal-Priest Personal details Born (1960-05-31) 31 May 1960 (age 66) Bunena, Tanzania Alma mater Pontifical Lateran University Motto Euntes in Mundum Universum ("Go into the whole world") Coat of arms

Styles of Protase Rugambwa Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Religious style Cardinal Informal style Cardinal

**Protase Rugambwa** (born 31 May 1960) is a Tanzanian [prelate](/source/Prelate) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) who has been metropolitan archbishop of the [Archdiocese of Tabora](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Tabora) since November 2023, after serving as coadjutor there for seven months. He was a secretary of the [Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples](/source/Congregation_for_the_Evangelization_of_Peoples) from November 2017 to April 2023. He previously served as that congregation's adjunct secretary and president of the [Pontifical Mission Societies](/source/Pontifical_Mission_Societies) from 2012 to 2017. [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) made him a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) on 30 September 2023.

## Biography

Protase Rugambwa was born on 31 May 1960 at Bunena, in the [diocese of Bukoba](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Rulenge). He had an elder brother, Paulo Kishumba (1957-2021).[1] He was given the name "Rugambwa" after [Laurean Rugambwa](/source/Laurean_Rugambwa), who had become Tanzania's first cardinal a few weeks earlier.[2] After attending primary and secondary schools and Minor Seminary Katoke Itaga, Rugambwa studied philosophy at Kibosho Senior Seminary and theology at St. Charles Lwanga Segerea Senior Seminary.[3]

He was [ordained](/source/Holy_Orders) a priest for the [Diocese of Rulenge](/source/Diocese_of_Rulenge) on 2 September 1990 in [Dar-es-Salaam](/source/Dar-es-Salaam) by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) during his pastoral visit to [Tanzania](/source/Tanzania).[4]

He was parish vicar of Mabira for 1990-91. He taught at the Minor Seminary of Katoke from 1991 to 1994, with responsibility for the liturgy and serving also as chaplain of Biharamulo hospital. From 1994 to 1998 he pursued a doctorate in pastoral theology at the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University). Returning to Tanzania, he was spiritual director of seminarians and director of vocations for the Diocese of Rulenge and executive director of the pastoral care department for 1998-99. From 2000 to 2002 he was [Vicar General](/source/Vicar_General) of the diocese of Rulenge and moderator of personnel. He worked in Rome on the staff of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples from 2002 to 2008.[3]

On 18 January 2008, [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) appointed Rugambwa bishop of the [Diocese of Kigoma](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Kigoma), [Tanzania](/source/Tanzania).[3] He received his episcopal consecration on 13 April[2] from Cardinal [Polycarp Pengo](/source/Polycarp_Pengo), Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam.

On 26 June 2012, Pope Benedict appointed him adjunct secretary of the [Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples](/source/Congregation_for_the_Evangelization_of_Peoples) and president of the [Pontifical Mission Societies](/source/Pontifical_Mission_Societies), replacing Archbishop [Piergiuseppe Vacchelli](/source/Piergiuseppe_Vacchelli), who had reached retirement age. He was given the personal title of archbishop at the same time.[5] Pope Francis confirmed him as adjunct secretary on 21 September 2013.[6]

On 9 November 2017, [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) promoted him to secretary of the Congregation.[7]

On 13 April 2023, Pope Francis named him archbishop coadjutor of Tabora.[8]

On 9 July 2023, Pope Francis announced the plans to make him a cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 30 September.[9] At that consistory he was made cardinal priest of [Santa Maria in Montesanto](/source/Santa_Maria_in_Montesanto_(Rome)).[10][11]

On 10 November 2023, he became archbishop of Tabora upon the resignation of [Paul R. Ruzoka](/source/Paul_R._Ruzoka).[12]

He participated as a [cardinal elector](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_the_2025_papal_conclave) in the [2025 papal conclave](/source/2025_papal_conclave) that elected [Pope Leo XIV](/source/Pope_Leo_XIV).[13]

## Publication

Protase Rugambwa: *Ministry and collaboration in small Christian communities: ″Communities in Rulenge Diocese-Tanzania, a case study"*, dissertation, Pontificia Università Lateranense, Rome, 1998.

## See also

- [Cardinals created by Francis](/source/Cardinals_created_by_Francis)

- [Laurean Rugambwa](/source/Laurean_Rugambwa)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Mjigwa, Richard A. (29 October 2021). ["Dr. Paulo Kishumba, Kaka yake Askofu Mkuu Protase Rugambwa Amefariki Dunia"](http://vaticannews.va/sw/vatican-city/news/2021-10/dr-paulo-kishumba-kaka-askofu-mkuu-protase-rugambwa-amefariki.html). *[Vatican News](/source/Vatican_News)* (in Swahili). Retrieved 20 October 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-chanzo_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-chanzo_2-1) Mzee wa Atikali (10 July 2023). ["Getting to Know Archbishop Protase Rugambwa"](https://thechanzo.com/2023/07/10/getting-to-know-archbishop-protase-rugambwa/). *The Chanzo Initiative*. Retrieved 12 July 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vatbio_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vatbio_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-vatbio_3-2) ["Rinunce e Nomine, 18.01.2008"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/01/18/0033/00076.html) (Press release) (in Italian). 18 January 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-crux_4-0)** Chimtom, Ngala Killian (20 July 2023). ["Meet Pope Francis's new African cardinals"](https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2023/07/meet-pope-franciss-new-african-cardinals). *Crux*. Retrieved 12 July 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-vaticanbio_5-0)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 26.06.2012"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2012/06/26/0385/00901.html) (Press release) (in Italian). 26 June 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 22.09.2013"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/09/21/0594/01323.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 12 July 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 09.11.2017"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2017/11/09/0772/01679.htm) (Press release) (in Italian). 9 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Resignations and Appointments, 13.04.2023"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/04/13/230413c.html) (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Le parole del Papa alla recita dell'Angelus, 09.07.2023"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/09/0502/01116.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 9 July 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Assignation of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals, 30.09.2023"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/09/30/230930b.html) (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** France Media Agency and TCT (30 September 2023). ["Protase Rugambwa: New Cardinal with vast experience in the Holy See"](https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/protase-rugambwa-new-cardinal-with-vast-experience-in-the-holy-see-4385168). *[The Citizen (Tanzania)](/source/The_Citizen_(Tanzania)) (TCT)*. Retrieved 1 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Rinunce e nomine, 10.11.2023"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/11/10/0785/01717.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Cardinal Electors"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html). Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 6 May 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html) from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Protase Rugambwa](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Protase_Rugambwa)***.

- [Rugambwa Card. Protase](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rugambwa_p.html). [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231002234323/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rugambwa_p.html) from the original on 2 October 2023

- [′Archbishop Protase Rugambwa′](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brugam.html) in Catholic-hierarchy.org

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Paul R. Ruzoka Bishop of Kigoma 18 January 2008 – 26 June 2012 Succeeded by Joseph Roman Mlola Preceded by Piergiuseppe Vacchelli Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples 26 June 2012 - 9 November 2017 Succeeded by Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso Preceded by Paul R. Ruzoka Archbishop of Tabora 2023- Incumbent

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v t e Cardinals created by Francis 2014 Parolin Baldisseri Müller Stella Nichols Brenes Lacroix Kutwa Tempesta Bassetti Poli Yeom Ezzati Ouédraogo Quevedo Langlois Capovilla Aguilar Felix 2015 Mamberti Clemente Souraphiel Dew Menichelli Nhơn Suárez Inda Bo Kovitvanit Montenegro Sturla Blázquez Lacunza Gomes Furtado Mafi Pimiento De Magistris Rauber Villalba Langa 2016 Zenari Nzapalainga Osoro da Rocha Cupich D'Rozario Porras De Kesel Piat Farrell Aguiar Retes Ribat Tobin Fernandez Corti Khoarai Simoni 2017 Zerbo Omella Arborelius Mangkhanekhoun Rosa 2018 Sako Ladaria De Donatis Becciu Krajewski Coutts Marto Barreto Tsarahazana Petrocchi Maeda Obeso Ticona Bocos 2019 Ayuso de Mendonça Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo García Ambongo Hollerich Ramazzini Zuppi López Czerny Fitzgerald Tamkevičius Dal Corso 2020 Grech Semeraro Kambanda Gregory Advincula Aós Braco Sim Lojudice Gambetti Arizmendi Tomasi Cantalamessa Feroci 2022 Roche You Vérgez Aveline Okpaleke Steiner Ferrão McElroy do Carmo da Silva Cantoni Poola Costa Baawobr Goh Martínez Flores Marengo Jimenéz Miglio Ghirlanda Frezza 2023 Prevost Gugerotti Fernández Tscherrig Pierre Pizzaballa Brislin Rossi Rueda Ryś Mulla Cobo Rugambwa Francis Chow Bustillo Alves Aguiar Fernández Artime Marchetto Padrón Dri 2024 Acerbi Castillo Bokalic Cabrera Chomali Kikuchi David Nemet Spengler Bessi Dogbo Vesco Mathieu Repole Reina Leo Makrickas Bychok Radcliffe Baggio Koovakad Battaglia Catholic Church portal

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