Cardinal Polycarp Pengo is Archbishop Emeritus of Dar es Salaam, a former president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), and an influential past member of several Vatican bodies.

Born on August 5, 1944, in Mwazye, Tanzania, Pengo began his religious education at the minor seminary in Kaengesa from 1959 to 1964, followed by philosophy and theology studies at the major seminary in Kipalapala from 1965 to 1971.

Ordained priest on June 20, 1971, Pengo initially served as Secretary to the Bishop of Sumbawanga for two years. He then pursued further education in Rome, earning a doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in 1977. Upon returning to Tanzania, he briefly taught at Kipalapala Theological Seminary before becoming the first Rector of Segerea Theological Seminary in Dar-es-Salaam, a position he held until 1983.

Pengo’s episcopal career began on November 11, 1983, when Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Nachingwea. He was ordained bishop on January 6, 1984, in St. Peter’s Basilica. In 1986, he became bishop of the newly created diocese of Tunduru-Masasi, also in Southern Tanzania.

His ascent in the Church hierarchy continued with his appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam on January 22, 1990. He assumed full leadership of the Archdiocese on July 22, 1992, following the resignation of Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa.

A significant milestone in Pengo’s career came on February 21, 1998, when Pope John Paul II elevated him to the rank of cardinal, assigning him the title of Nostra Signora de La Salette. As a Cardinal, Pengo participated in the conclaves that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013.

Throughout his tenure, Cardinal Pengo has held several important positions within the Church. He served as President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) from 2007 to 2009 and was a member of various Vatican congregations and councils.

In November 2018, he spoke of his strong opposition to ideological colonization, urging the Tanzanian government to reject in particular any foreign aid that is conditioned on accepting Western cultural norms regarding homosexuality. He said all Tanzanians should say no to homosexuality, which he claimed was “encroaching very fast in African countries.”

After serving as Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam for 27 years, Pope Francis accepted Cardinal Pengo’s retirement on August 15, 2019, at the age of 75.