President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania has joined other national leaders in paying national tributes following the death of Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, former Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In a condolence conveyed to the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, President Hassan noted that she received the news of the Cardinal’s death with deep sorrow while describing him as a spiritual leader and patriot who contributed to strengthening faith, moral values, unity, and national cohesion through decades of dedicated service in the Catholic Church.
“The nation has lost a leader who served with integrity and dedication. His contribution to spiritual and moral formation will continue to be remembered, valued and honoured,” she said.
While Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr. Philip Mpango, urged Tanzanians to emulate Cardinal Pengo’s spirit of tolerance and willingness to sacrifice for those in need, leaders of the ruling Chama Cha Mapingduzi party disclosed that “Cardinal Pengo’s 55 years in priesthood, 43 years as a Bishop and 28 years as a Cardinal were marked by humility, social solidarity and dedication to community welfare.”
Born on 5 August 1944 and ordained a priest on 20 June 1971, Pengo studied Moral Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University, culminating in earning a doctorate in 1976 at the same institution.
He was appointed Bishop of Nachingwea (1983) and served in Tunduru-Masasi (1986) and later Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar es Salaam and substantive Archbishop (1992-2019).
Cardinal Pengo was remembered as a “pioneer and prophet” whose work provided strong moral and spiritual formation in East Africa.
Pengo was Tanzania’s second Archbishop to be elevated to Cardinal in 1998 by Pope John Paul II and participated in two conclaves in 2005 that elected Pope Benedict XVI and 2013 that elected Pope Francis.
Pengo, who served as President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2007-2009), was highly regarded for defending African cultural values within the Church and championed the African contribution to global Catholicism.
He defended the Church’s teachings regarding family, human sexuality, and marriage, strongly urging against “ideological colonisation” and foreign aid with conditions attached on changing the moral values of the Church.
Archbishop Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi of Dar es Salaam, who announced the death of Cardinal Pengo on 20 February 2026, described it as a “great loss” to the Church and called on the faithful to pray for the repose of his soul.
Cardinal Pengo died at 81 years on 19 February 2026 at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute.
His body will lie in state at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Friday, 27 February 2026, and the funeral Mass is slated for 28 February 2026.
