Tanzania: Bishop Bernardin Mfumbusa, African Prelate appointed to Vatican Communications Dicastery, passes on

The Tanzania Episcopal Conference has announced with deep sorrow the death of Bishop Bernardin Francis Mfumbusa, who passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma after a short illness.

His passing comes just five days after his appointment by Pope Leo XIV to serve on the Vatican’s Dicastery Commission for Communication, marking a poignant moment for the Church in Africa and beyond.

Bishop Mfumbusa, who served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Kondoa, was widely regarded as a leading voice in Church communications on the continent. In July–August 2025, he was elected President of the Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) during the plenary assembly of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Born in 1962 in Kondoa, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Dodoma on June 14, 1992. He later pursued advanced studies in Rome, earning a doctorate in communications from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1997.

Following his studies, he returned to Tanzania where he contributed significantly to Catholic higher education at St. Augustine Catholic University of Tanzania (SAUT), serving in various leadership roles including Dean of Social Sciences, Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Appointed bishop in 2011 following the establishment of the Diocese of Kondoa by Pope Benedict XVI, he was consecrated on May 15 of the same year, becoming the founding shepherd of the diocese.

As bishop, Mfumbusa was known for his commitment to building a self-sustaining local Church and fostering peaceful coexistence in a region with a significant Muslim population. He also championed the use of modern communication tools for evangelisation, reflecting his academic background and pastoral vision.

The Tanzania Episcopal Conference described his death as a great loss to the Church, particularly at a time when his expertise was being recognised at the universal level through his recent Vatican appointment.

His passing marks the end of a life dedicated to pastoral service, academic excellence, and the advancement of Church communication in Africa, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire the faithful and the wider Church.