Name Protase Rugambwa | Spoken style Your Excellency Posthumous style none | |
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Protase Rugambwa (born 31 May 1960) is the current adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and concurrently president of Pontifical Mission Societies since his appointment was announced on 26 June 2012.
Biography
Rugambwa was born in 1960 at Bunena, in the diocese of Bukoba. After his primary and secondary schools in various seminaries and Minor Katoke Itaga, he studied philosophy at Kibosho Senior Seminary and theology at St. Charles Lwanga Segerea Senior Seminary.
He was ordained priest on 2 September 1990 in Dar-es-Salaam by John Paul II during his pastoral visit to Tanzania, and incardiated the diocese of Rulenge.
After ordination he held the following offices: 1990-1991: Parish Vicar in the parish of Mabira, 1991-1994: Teacher in the Minor Seminary of Katoke, in charge of the Liturgy and Diocesan Chaplain of the hospital Biharamulo, 1994-1998: Studies for a doctorate in pastoral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, 1998-1999: Trainer of the Year seminarians spiritual, Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Rulenge, Executive Secretary of the Department of Pastoral Care, 2000-2002: Vicar General of the diocese Moderator of Rulenge and Personnel; 2002-2008: Official of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
On 18 January 2008, pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Kigoma, Tanzania. He received his episcopal consecration on 13 April next.
On 26 June 2012 Rugambwa was appointed adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and concurrently president of Pontifical Mission Societies, replacing Archbishop Piergiuseppe Vacchelli, who had reached the retirement age. He was at the same time appointed archbishop ad personam.