Diocese of

Iringa

Tanzania

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Iringa / Iringaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mbeya

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1922.03.03: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Iringa / Iringaën(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Dar-es-Salaam)
1935.01.28: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Dodoma
1948.01.08: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Iringa / Iringaën(sis) (Latin)
1953.03.25: Promoted as Diocese of Iringa / Iringaën(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Dar-es-Salaam)
1968.02.16: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Njombe
1987.11.18: Became suffragan of Songea
2018.12.21: Became suffragan of Mbeya
2023.12.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mafinga

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.01.28 – ...):

Bishop-elect Romanus Elamu Mihaliè (55)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Iringa (Roman Rite)

Bishop-elect Romanus Elamu Mihaliè (55)
(2025.01.28 – ...)

Bishop of Iringa (Tanzania)

Born:	1969.06.10 (Itulituli, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	2000.07.13

Priest of Iringa (Tanzania) (2000.07.13 – 2023.12.22)

Priest of Mafinga (Tanzania) (2023.12.22 – 2025.01.28)

Bishop of Iringa (Tanzania) (2025.01.28 – ...)

Bishop Tarcisius J. M. Ngalalekumtwa (76)
(1992.11.21 – 2025.01.28)

Bishop emeritus of Iringa (Tanzania)

Born:	1948.10.25 (Banawanu, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1973.04.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1989.01.06

Priest of Iringa (Tanzania) (1973.04.17 – 1988.11.14)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sumbawanga (Tanzania) (1988.11.14 – 1992.11.21)

Bishop of Iringa (Tanzania) (1992.11.21 – 2025.01.28)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (2012.07 – 2018.06.23)

Apostolic Administrator of Songea (Tanzania) (2013.05.15 – 2014.03.14)

Bishop Norbert Wendelin Mtega (79) (later Archbishop)
(1985.10.28 – 1992.07.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Songea (Tanzania)

Born:	1945.08.17 (Kinyika, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1973.11.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.01.06

Priest of Njombe (Tanzania) (1973.11.14 – 1985.10.28)

Bishop of Iringa (Tanzania) (1985.10.28 – 1992.07.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Songea (Tanzania) (1992.07.06 – 2013.05.15)

Bishop Mario Epifanio Abdallah Mgulunde (later Archbishop)
(1969.10.23 – 1985.03.09)

Born:	1931 (Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1962.04.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.02.15
Died:	2006.03.14 († 74)

Bishop of Iringa (Tanzania) (1969.10.23 – 1985.03.09)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (1976 – 1982)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania) (1985.03.09 – 2006.03.14)

Bishop Attilio Beltramino, I.M.C.
(1953.03.25 – 1965.10.03)

Born:	1901.03.19 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1924.04.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.05.27
Died:	1965.10.03 († 64)

Prefect Apostolic of Iringa (Tanzania) (1936.02.18 – 1948.01.08)

Titular Bishop of Thuburnica (1948.01.08 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Iringa (Tanzania) (1948.01.08 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Iringa (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1965.10.03)

Vicars Apostolic of Iringa (Roman Rite)

Bishop Attilio Beltramino, I.M.C.
(1948.01.08 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Iringa (Roman Rite)

Fr. Attilio Beltramino, I.M.C. (later Bishop)
(1936.02.18 – 1948.01.08)

(see above)

Fr. Francesco Cagliero, I.M.C.
(1922.05.10 – 1935)

Died:

1935

Prefect Apostolic of Iringa (Tanzania) (1922.05.10 – 1935)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Kihesa Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Iringa, Iringa

Mbeya (↙), Dodoma (↑), Morogoro (↗), Ifakara (→), Mahenge (↘), Mafinga (↓)

Statistics (2023)

Area: 32,202 km²

Population: 530,094 Catholics (24.4% of 2,172,101 total)

Pastoral Centres: 28 parishes

Personnel: 99 priests (81 diocesan, 18 religious), 735 religious (136 brothers, 599 sisters), 58 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.03.23

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