The following is the telegram of condolence sent by the Holy Father to Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, metropolitan of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on the death on Thursday 19 February 2026 of His Eminence Cardinal Polycarp Pengo:

Telegram of the Holy Father

THE MOST REVEREND
JUDE THADDAEUS RUWA’ICHI
ARCHBISHOP OF DAR-ES-SALAAM

UPON LEARNING OF THE DEATH OF HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL POLYCARP PENGO, I OFFER HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND TO THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DAR-ES-SALAAM. WITH GRATITUDE FOR HIS DEVOTED EPISCOPAL MINISTRY OVER MANY YEARS TO SEVERAL LOCAL CHURCHES, ESPECIALLY HIS DEDICATION TO THE FORMATION OF THE CLERGY, AS WELL AS HIS SERVICE TO THE SYMPOSIUM OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES OF AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR, AND NOT LEAST TO THE HOLY SEE, I JOIN YOU IN COMMENDING THE SOUL OF THIS WISE AND GENTLE PASTOR TO THE MERCY OF CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD.  TO ALL WHO MOURN HIS PASSING IN THE SURE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION, I IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND PEACE IN THE LORD.

                                                                                   LEO PP. XIV