Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania 🇹🇿

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Dar-es-Salaam / Daressalaamen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Bagamoyo, Ifakara, Mahenge, Morogoro, Tanga, Zanzibar

Neighbouring Dioceses: Morogoro (←), Bagamoyo (↖), Zanzibar (↑), Lindi (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1887.11.16: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Southern Zanguebar / Zanguebar Meridionale (Italiano) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Zanguebar)
1902.09.15: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Zanguebar / Zanguebar Meridionale (Italiano)
1906.08.10: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Dar-es-Salaam / Daressalaamen(sis) (Latin)
1913.11.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Lindi
1922.03.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Iringa
1953.03.25: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam / Daressalaamen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Dodoma, Iringa, Mbulu, Morogoro and Moshi)
1958.02.24: Gained suffragan see Tanga
1963.03.01: Gained suffragan see Arusha
1963.08.05: Gained suffragan see Nachingwea
1964.04.21: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mahenge and gained suffragan see Mahenge
1964.12.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Administration of Zanzibar and Pemba
1968.02.16: Gained suffragan see Njombe
1969.02.06: Gained suffragan see Songea
1972.12.18: Gained suffragan see Mtwara
1977.02.03: Gained suffragan see Same
1980.03.28: Gained suffragan see Zanzibar
1986.10.17: Lost suffragan see Nachingwea and gained suffragan sees Lindi and Tunduru–Masasi
1986.12.22: Gained suffragan see Mbinga
1987.11.18: Lost suffragan sees Iringa, Lindi, Mbinga, Mtwara, Njombe, Songea and Tunduru–Masasi
1999.03.16: Lost suffragan sees Arusha, Mbulu, Moshi and Same
2011.03.12: Gained suffragan see Kondoa
2012.01.14: Gained suffragan see Ifakara
2014.11.06: Lost suffragan sees Dodoma and Kondoa
2025.03.07: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bagamoyo and gained suffragan see Bagamoyo

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1990.09)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2019.08.15 – ...):	Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap. (72)
Auxiliary Bishop (2021.07.07 – ...):	Bishop Henry Mchamungu Kyara (61) Titular Bishop of Tanaramusa

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Dar-es-Salaam (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap. (72)
(2019.08.15 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania)

Bwana wajua nakupenda

Born:	1954.01.30 (Mulo-Kilema, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1981.11.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.05.16

Bishop of Mbulu (Tanzania) (1999.02.09 – 2005.01.15)

Bishop of Dodoma (Tanzania) (2005.01.15 – 2010.11.10)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (2006 – 2012.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mwanza (Tanzania) (2010.11.10 – 2018.06.21)

Apostolic Administrator of Shinyanga (Tanzania) (2013 – 2015.02.02)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (2018.06.21 – 2019.08.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (2019.08.15 – ...)

Cardinal Polycarp Pengo
(1992.07.22 – 2019.08.15)

Ecce ego Domine

Born:	1944.08.05 (Mwazye, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1971.06.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.01.06
Created Cardinal:	1998.02.21
Died:	2026.02.19 (Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania † 81)

Priest of Sumbawanga (Tanzania) (1971.06.20 – 1983.11.11)

Bishop of Nachingwea (Tanzania) (1983.11.11 – 1986.10.17)

Bishop of Tunduru–Masasi (Tanzania) (1986.10.17 – 1990.01.22)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1990.01.22 – 1992.07.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1992.07.22 – 2019.08.15)

Cardinal-Priest of Nostra Signora de La Salette (1998.02.21 [1998.04.26] – 2026.02.19)

President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2007.06 – 2013.09)

Member of Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Apostolic See (2012.06.23 – 2014.02.24)

Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa
(1968.12.19 – 1992.07.22)

Mater boni consilii

Born:	1912.07.12 (Bukongo, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1943.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.02.10
Created Cardinal:	1960.03.28
Died:	1997.12.08 (Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania † 85)

Titular Bishop of Febiana (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Lower Kagera (Tanzania) (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Rutabo (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1960.06.21)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Francesco d’Assisi a Ripa Grande (1960.03.31 – 1997.12.08)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1960.06.21 – 1968.12.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1968.12.19 – 1992.07.22)

President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (1970 – 1974)

Archbishop Edgard Aristide Maranta, O.F.M. Cap.
(1953.03.25 – 1968.12.19)

Born:	1897.01.09 (Poschiavo, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1924.04.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1930.08.17
Died:	1975.01.29 (Sursee, Switzerland † 78)

Titular Bishop of Vinda (1930.03.27 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1930.03.27 – 1953.03.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1968.12.19)

Apostolic Administrator of Zanzibar and Pemba (Tanzania) (1964.12.12 – 1966.05.09)

Titular Archbishop of Castro (1968.12.19 – 1975.01.29)

Vicars Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam (Roman Rite)

Bishop Edgard Aristide Maranta, O.F.M. Cap. (later Archbishop)
(1930.03.27 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph Gabriel Zelger, O.F.M. Cap.
(1923.02.15 – 1929.07.05)

Born:	1867.11.10 (Stans, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1890.03.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1923.06.24
Died:	1934.08.20 (Dornach, Switzerland † 66)

Titular Bishop of Claudiopolis in Isauria (1923.01.29 – 1934.08.20)

Vicar Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1923.02.15 – 1929.07.05)

Bishop Thomas Spreiter, O.S.B.
(1906.03.13 – 1920.11.24)

Born:	1865.12.28 (Regensburg, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1897.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1906.05.01
Died:	1944.01.27 (Inkamana, South Africa † 78)

Vicar Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1906.03.13 – 1920.11.24)

Titular Bishop of Thenæ (1906.03.13 – 1944.01.27)

Prefect Apostolic of Zululand (South Africa) (1921.08.27 – 1923.12.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Eshowe (South Africa) (1923.12.11 – 1943.05.14)

Vicars Apostolic of Southern Zanguebar (Roman Rite)

Bishop Cassian Spiß, O.S.B.
(1902.09.15 – 1905.08.14)

Born:	1866.06.12 (Sankt Jakob am Arlberg, Austria)
Ordained Priest:	1889.04.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1902.11.16
Died:	1905.08.14 (Burundi † 39)

Titular Bishop of Ostracine (1902.09.15 – 1905.08.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Southern Zanguebar (Tanzania) (1902.09.15 – 1905.08.14)

Prefects Apostolic of Southern Zanguebar (Roman Rite)

Fr. Maurus Hartmann, O.S.B.
(1894.07.01 – 1902.09.15)

Born:	1865.11.21 (Wald, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1890.08.02
Died:	1905.08.20 († 39)

Prefect Apostolic of Southern Zanguebar (Tanzania) (1894.07.01 – 1902.09.15)

Fr. Bonifatius Fleschutz, O.S.B.
(1887.11.18 – 1891.01.29)

Born:	1861.01.09 (Reicholzried, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1886.05.03
Died:	1891.01.29 († 30)

Prefect Apostolic of Southern Zanguebar (Tanzania) (1887.11.18 – 1891.01.29)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Polycarp Pengo (later Cardinal) (1990.01.22 – 1992.07.22)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap. (72) (2018.06.21 – 2019.08.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Stephano Lameck Musomba, O.S.A. (56) (2021.07.07 – 2025.03.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Titus Joseph Mdoe (65) (2013.02.16 – 2015.10.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Eusebius Alfred Nzigilwa (59) (2010.01.28 – 2020.05.13)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Salutaris Melchior Libena (62) (2010.01.28 – 2012.01.14)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Method Kilaini (78) (1999.12.22 – 2009.12.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Elias Mchonde (1956.03.24 – 1964.04.21)