The Catholic Bishops of Tanzania have left the country on Tuesday 1stApril 2014 for Ad Limina Visit in Rome that will end on the 8thApril 2014.
- Bishop Agapiti Ndorobo of Mahenge;
- Bishop Telesphor Mkude of Morogoro;
- Bishop Augustine Ndeliakyama Shao, C.S.Sp., of Zanzibar;
- Archbishop Paul R. Ruzoka of Tabora, Apostolic Administrator of Kigoma;
- Bishop Ludovick Joseph Minde, O.S.S., of Kahama;
- Bishop Damian Kyaruzi of Sumbawanga, Apostolic Administrator of Mpanda;
- Bishop Eusebius Alfred Nzigilwa, Auxiliary of Dar-es-Salaam.
The Ad Limina visit means, technically, the obligation incumbent on certain members of the hierarchy of visiting, at stated times, the "thresholds of the Apostles", Sts Peter and Paul, and of presenting themselves before the Pope to give an account of the state of their dioceses. The object of the visit is not merely to make a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles, but, above all, to show the proper reverence for the Successor of St. Peter, to acknowledge practically his universal jurisdiction by giving an account of the condition of particular churches, to receive his admonitions and counsels, and thus bind more closely the members of the Church to its Divinely appointed head. |
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| Rt. Rev. Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa |
According to the President of the Tanzania Episcopal Council Rt. Rev. Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa, Bishop of Iringa Diocese, their visit to the Vatican recaptures the scene of St. Paul when he was called Saul, on his way to Damascus when he was converted.
“We are going to meet with the Chair of St. Peter that is currently occupied by Pope Francis and as usual every five years bishops are supposed to go to Rome so that the Pope can meet with the heads of local church,” he explained.
He also mentioned some of the pontifical Commissions they are scheduled to visit while at the Vatican, which includes Propagation of Faith (Propaganda Fide), the Commission for Dialogue, Commission for the Families, and Commission for Interreligious Dialogue among others.
“Leaders and Heads of various departments will also hold talks with the Bishops on Evangelization, Christian formation, vocations in the Church and the Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS) among others,” he said.
The President added that apart from meeting with the Pope and some heads of the Departments at the Vatican, the Bishops will have time to pray at the tombs of the first Christians martyrs who were persecuted for their faith.
“Each Bishop will have the opportunity to meet with the Holy Father so that he may express and explain his state. Apart from that we will have the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Mass with the Holy Father as a sign of showing brotherhood and unity as Bishops of the Catholic Church in Tanzania,” he said.
Bishop Ngalalekumtwa explained that The Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, H.E. Polycarp Cardinal Pengo has not joined them on the pilgrimage and instead he is represented by Bishop Eusebius Alfred Nzigilwa, Auxiliary of Dar-es-Salaam.
The last time Tanzania Episcopal Conference held ‘Ad Limina Visit’ was in 2005, when Blessed John Paul II was admitted at the Gemelli Hospital. They were last group of Bishops to meet with Pope John Paul II before he passed away on the 2ndApril 2005.
Information received from the Vatican said Nine prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania, had an audience with the Holy Father on the 4th April, 2014: These are
- Bishop Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga of Dodoma;
- Bishop Salutaris Melchior Libena of Ifakara;- Bishop Agapiti Ndorobo of Mahenge;
- Bishop Telesphor Mkude of Morogoro;
- Bishop Augustine Ndeliakyama Shao, C.S.Sp., of Zanzibar;
- Archbishop Paul R. Ruzoka of Tabora, Apostolic Administrator of Kigoma;
- Bishop Ludovick Joseph Minde, O.S.S., of Kahama;
- Bishop Damian Kyaruzi of Sumbawanga, Apostolic Administrator of Mpanda;
- Bishop Eusebius Alfred Nzigilwa, Auxiliary of Dar-es-Salaam.
Other Bishops will have their turn in some coming days. Tanzania Episcopal Conference has 34 Dioceses.
SOURCE: TEC Communications Department and AMECEA Social Communications