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Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Catholic Bishop of Iringa in Tanzania, Appoints Successor

Mons. Romanus Elamu Mihali, appointed Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Iringa in Tanzania on 28 January 2025. Credit: Tumainimedia

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa from the pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Iringa in Tanzania and appointed Mons. Romanus Elamu Mihali, Clergy of the country's Mafinga Diocese, as his successor.

The appointment of Mons. Mihali who has been serving as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy in the Diocese of Mafinga and Parish Priest of the Virgin Mary of the Assumption Parish in Ujewa, was published by the Holy See Press office on Tuesday, January 28, and confirmed by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) on the same day.

Bishop Ngalalekumtwa is retiring at the age of 76 after serving as the Local Ordinary of Iringa Diocese since November 1992. 

In their January 28 statement confirming the appointment of the new Bishop, TEC members said they “pray for good health and spiritual strength” for the Bishop-elect as he begins his new ministry.

Born on 10 June 1969, in Itulituli, Mufindi, the Bishop-elect was ordained a Priest on 13 July 2000, for the Diocese of Iringa after completing his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Peramiho Major Seminary in Songea.

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As a Priest, the Bishop-elect has served in various capacities, including Assistant Pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Ilula, Iringa, and Teacher and Formator at St. Kizito Minor Seminary in Mafinga Diocese.

The alumnus of India’s University of Kerala where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Zoological Sciences, a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Sciences, and a Bachelor of Education, has also served as Assistant Parish Priest at Virgin Mary of Fatima Parish, Usomaki, of Iringa Diocese.

When consecrated Bishop, Mons. Mihali will serve as the sixth Local Ordinary of the 32,202 square-kilometer Tanzanian Diocese which has a total population of 2,155,435 of which 530,094 are Catholics representing 24.6 percent, according to the 2024 statistics.

The Suffragan Diocese of the Archdiocese of Mbeya was erected in March 1922 as the Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa before elevation to a diocese in March 1953.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.