The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam (Latin: Archidioecesis Daressalaamensis) is a Latin Metropolitan archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Tanzania.
The archdiocese's motherchurch and seat of its archbishop is St. Joseph's Cathedral. The current Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam is Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, having been appointed by Pope John Paul II on July 22, 1992.
It was erected as the Apostolic Prefecture of Southern Zanguebar by Pope Leo XIII on November 16, 1887, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Zanguebar.
It was promoted to Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Zanguebar on September 15, 1902. It was renamed by Pope Pius X as the Apostolic Vicariate of Dar-es-Salaam on August 10, 1906.
Lost territories on 1913.11.12 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Lindi and again on 1922.03.03 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Iringa
Promoted to Metropolitan Archdiocese by Pope Pius XII on March 25, 1953
Lost territories on 1964.04.21: to establish Diocese of Mahenge and again on 1964.12.12 to establish the then Apostolic Administration of Zanzibar and Pemba (now Diocese of Zanzibar, both its suffragans
It enjoyed a papal visit from Pope John Paul II in September 1990.
Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own archdiocese and the following suffragan bishoprics:
Roman Catholic Diocese of Mahenge
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ifakara
Roman Catholic Diocese of Morogoro
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tanga
Roman Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar.
(all Roman Rite, mostly missionary members of Latin congregations)
Apostolic Prefects of Southern Zanguebar
Bonifatius Fleschutz, Order of Saint Benedict (O.S.B.) (1887.11.18 – death 1891.01.29)
Maurus Hartmann, O.S.B. (1894.07.01 – retired 1902.09.15)
Apostolic Vicar of Southern Zanguebar
Cassian Spiß, O.S.B. (1902.09.15 – death 1905.08.14), Titular Bishop of Ostracine (1902.09.15 – 1905.08.14)
Apostolic Vicars of Dar-es-Salaam
Thomas Spreiter, O.S.B.(1906.03.13 – 1920.11.24), Titular Bishop of Thenæ (1906.03.13 – death 1944.01.27); later Apostolic Prefect of Zululand (South Africa) (1921.08.27 – 1923.12.11), Apostolic Vicar of Eshowe (South Africa) (1923.12.11 – 1943.05.14)
Joseph Gabriel Zelger, Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M. Cap.) (1923.02.15 – 1929.07.05), Titular Bishop of Claudiopolis in Isauria (1923.01.29 – 1934.08.20)
Edgar Aristide Maranta, O.F.M. Cap. (1930.03.27 – 1953.03.25 see below), Titular Bishop of Vinda (1930.03.27 – 1953.03.25)
Metropolitan Archbishops of Dar-es-Salaam
Edgard Aristide Maranta, O.F.M. Cap. (see above 1953.03.25 – 1968.12.19), also Apostolic Administrator of Zanzibar and Pemba (Tanzania) (1964.12.12 – 1966), emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Castro (del Lazio) (1968.12.19 – 1975.01.29)
Laurean Rugambwa (1968.12.19 – 1992.07.22), also President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (1970 – 1974); previously Titular Bishop of Febiana (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25), Apostolic Vicar of Lower Kagera (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25), Bishop of Rutabo (Tanzania; now a titular see) (1953.03.25 – 1960.06.21), created Cardinal-Priest of S. Francesco d’Assisi a Ripa Grande (1960.03.31 – 1997.12.08), Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1960.06.21 – 1968.12.19)
Polycarp Pengo (1992 - ...), succeeding as former Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (1990.01.22 – 1992.07.22); previously Bishop of Nachingwea (1983.11.11 – 1986.10.17), Bishop of Tunduru–Masasi (Tanzania) (1986.10.17 – 1990.01.22)
