Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora

The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tabora (Latin: Archidioecesis Metropolitae Taboraënsis) is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Tabora in Tanzania.^[2]

Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tabora Archidioecesis Metropolitae Taboraënsis Jimbo Kuu la Tabora
Location
Country	Tanzania
Territory	Tabora, Kigoma
Ecclesiastical province	Archdiocese of Tabora
Coordinates	5°01′S 32°48′E
Statistics
Area	76,151 sq mi (197,230 km2)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2022) 2435200[1] 246139 (10.1%)
Parishes	30
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	January 11, 1887
Cathedral	St. Theresa’s Metropolitan Cathedral
Patron saint	Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Secular priests	96
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Metropolitan Archbishop	Protase Rugambwa
Suffragans	Kigoma Kahama Mpanda
Bishops emeritus	Paul R. Ruzoka
Website
catbr.or.tz
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora (Tanzania)

In the year 2004 it had 257.390 faithful among 1.426.998 people (18.0%), with 64 priests (43 diocesans and 21 religious) (1 per 4,021 Catholics, 32 brothers and 159 sisters in 22 parishes. As per 2020 statistics, it had 235,748 faithful among 2,362,660 people (10%), with 97 priests (59 diocesan and 38 religious) which is approx. 1 priest per 2,430 catholics. Also there was 54 male religious and 229 female religious.^[3]

History

• January 11, 1887: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Unianyembé from the Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika
• May 31, 1925: Promoted as Diocese of Tabora
• March 25, 1953: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tabora

Special churches

The seat of the archbishop is St. Theresa’s Metropolitan Cathedral in Tabora.

Bishops

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Unianyembé (Roman rite)

• François Gerboin, M. Afr. (1897.01.28 – 1912.06.27)
• Henri Léonard, M. Afr. (1912.06.27 – 1925.05.31 see below)

Vicars Apostolic of Tabora (Roman rite)

• Henri Léonard, M. Afr. (see above 1925.05.31 – 1928.07.23)
• Edouard Michaud, M. Afr. (1928.11.29 – 1932.03.24), appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Uganda
• Joseph Trudel, M. Afr. (1933.04.25 – 1949.02.04)
• Cornelius Bronsveld, M. Afr. (1950.05.31 – 1953.03.25 see below)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Tabora (Roman rite)

• Cornelius Bronsveld, M. Afr. (see above 1953.03.25 – 1959.12.21)
• Marko Mihayo (1960.06.21 – 1985.03.09)
• Mario Epifanio Abdallah Mgulunde (1985.03.09 – 2006.03.14)
• Paul R. Ruzoka (25 November 2006 – 10 November 2023)
• Protase Cardinal Rugambwa (since 10 November 2023)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic

• Henri Léonard, M. Afr. (1912)

Auxiliary Bishop

• Bernard Mabula (1969-1972), appointed Bishop of Singida
• Josaphat Jackson Bududu (since 26 February 2025)

Suffragan dioceses

• Kahama
• Kigoma
• Mpanda

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Tanzania