DAR ES SALAAM: THE former Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete, has sent condolences following the death of Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, describing the nation’s loss of a spiritual leader who made significant contributions to the country’s development.
Retired Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, passed away on the night of February 19, 2026, at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), where he was receiving treatment at the age of 82.
In his letter to the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Thaddaeus Ruwa’ich, Kikwete said that the loss is not only for the Catholic Church but for all Tanzanians.
“I am writing to extend my heartfelt condolences on the great loss you have suffered due to the passing of His Eminence Cardinal Polycarp Pengo. It is a loss for all of us,” Kikwete wrote.
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He noted that throughout his life and service to the Church, Cardinal Pengo made an important contribution to the country’s development, impacting the lives of Tanzanians of all ages and faiths.
“I join you in praying for his peaceful rest and asking God to grant him a place in paradise. Amen,” Kikwete wrote.