Renowned Tanzanian Prelate and Communication expert, Most Rev. Bernardin Francis Mfumbusa, who was appointed to the Dicastery for Communication on 9 April 2026 by Pope Leo before his sudden death is remembered as a shining star across the African continent.
Tributes have been pouring from across the globe for the founding Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania who passed away on 14 April 2026 at the age of 64.
A fellow member who also recently appointed to the Dicastery for Communications and President of SECAM, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo praised the late prelate as a “shining example of pastoral dedication” and a visionary leader in social communications.
The Archbishop of Kinshasa (DRC) noted that Bishop Mfumbusa was a passionate advocate for modern communication tools in evangelisation adding that he will be widely remembered for his humility, pastoral warmth and visionary leadership.
Bishop Bernadin Mfumbusa. Credit: Leonard Mapuli
Leading Tributes and Commemorations
In her tributes, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania described the late Prelate as a “distinguished figure” who made a remarkable contribution to Tanzania’s communications sector.
She noted his dedication to mentorship and research for journalists and future leaders across the African continent.
World communication’s body SIGNIS Africa honoured the late Bishop’s “paternal concern” for the organisation and his innovative belief that digital coding is as vital to modern evangelisation as Latin was in the past.
On his part, the Bishop of Oyo Diocese in South West Nigeria and Chairman for the Communications of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo eulogised him as a “real gentleman.”
He lauded the deceased prelate as a highly competent leader whose sudden death was a “deeply sudden shock” to the Church in Africa.
Legacy and Professional Contributions
Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 as the first bishop of the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Kondoa, Bishop Mfumbusa was elected as the President of the Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) in 2025.
Just five days before his death, he was appointed by Pope Leo XIV as a member of the Dicastery for Communication in Rome, recognizing his global influence.
He served as a lecturer and later the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), where he headed the journalism department.
Funeral services and farewell
Announcers have announced his funeral services with special public tributes and farewell is being scheduled for this week.
The requiem mass will be held on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, at 8:00 a.m. at St. Paul of the Cross Cathedral, Archdiocese of Dodoma.
The people of God will pay their last respects for Bishop Mfumbusa as the body will be moved to Kondoa for a 4:00 p.m. evening Mass on 21 April.
The burial mass takes place on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, at 4:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Kondoa, where he will be laid to rest.
