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| Rt. Rev Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa |
The Bishops of Tanzania have been very much inspired by the reception they received from the Holy Father, Pope Francis, during their “Ad Limina Visit” in Rome made from 2nd to 8th April 2014.
Speaking after their arrival from Rome, the Chairman of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Rt. Rev Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa said their program went on successfully as they planned and that they were able to meet the Holy Father in three groups before they met Him as one Group.
The Chairman said they were glad to find that the Holy Father was aware of the challenges the Catholic Church in Tanzania is experiencing. Pope Francis expressed sympathy for the recent tragic killing of a priest, dousing of the other with acid in Zanzibar and the bombings in Arusha.
Bishop Ngalalekumtwa said that the Holy Father gave them a friendly welcome as he told them that He preferred more discussions than meetings. According to him, discussions would create a room for sharing and coming up with common solutions to the challenges facing the Church.
The Holy Father was impressed to see that all Bishops of Tanzania are indigenous. He commended them to keep the spirit of the missionaries and prayed for the families to be missionaries of faith in their day to day lives.
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| Rt. Rev. Renatus Nkwande |
The Pope further insisted on keeping the African traditions, including the family values, at the heart of making the Gospel truly alive among the People of God. He strongly urged them to denounce the promotion of contraceptives; abortion, same sex marriages and all that which contradicts God’s Plan and African Traditional values.
Commenting on the visit, the Bishop of Bunda Diocese, Rt. Rev. Renatus Nkwande said that what impressed the bishops was the humility of the Holy Father. By his way of life and message, the Holy Father is bridging the gap between his ministry as Successor of St. Peter and the flock entrusted to his care, the Universal Church. Bishop Nkwande said, “We are coming back to our Local Church with that message of humility which we should practice and live so that the gap between us and our people whom we serve is bridged by our compassionate love and service as their shepherds.”
SOURCE: AMECEA Social Communications and TEC Communications Office