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Novatus Rugambwa

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Novatus Rugambwa
Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to New Zealand, Fiji, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands. Micronesia and Apostolic Delegate Emeritus to the Pacific Ocean
Titular Archbishop of Tagaria
Rugambwa in 2019
Church
Appointed29 March 2019
PredecessorMartin Krebs
Other post(s)
Previous post(s)
Personal details
Born
Novatus Rugambwa

(1957-10-08) 8 October 1957 (age 67)
Bukoba, Tanzania
Ordination history
History
Diaconal ordination
Ordained byNestorius Timanywa
Date5 January 1986
PlaceBukoba, Tanzania
Priestly ordination
Ordained byNestorius Timanywa
Date6 July 1986
PlaceBukoba
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorTarcisio Bertone
Co-consecrators
Date18 March 2010
PlaceSt. Peter's Basilica, Roma, Italy
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Novatus Rugambwa as principal consecrator
Dionísio Hisiilenapo [pt]2011
Pio Hipunyati [pt]2012
Source(s):[1]
Styles of
Novatus Rugambwa
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Novatus Rugambwa (born 8 October 1957)[2] is a Tanzanian prelate of the Catholic Church and diplomat of the Holy See.[3]

Biography

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Novatus Rugambwa was born on 8 October 1957, in Bukoba, Tanzania, and was ordained a priest on 6 July 1986, for the Diocese of Bukoba. He holds a degree in canon law. In 1987 he was admitted to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy to study diplomacy.[4]

Diplomatic career

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Rugambwa entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1991, and served in the pontifical diplomatic missions in Panama, Republic of Congo, Pakistan, New Zealand and Indonesia.[5] He was named undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants on 28 June 2007.

On 6 February 2010 he was named Titular Archbishop of Tagaria and apostolic nuncio to São Tomé and Príncipe.[6] He was named apostolic nuncio to Angola on 20 February 2010 as well.[7] His episcopal consecration took place on 18 March 2010; Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone was the principal consecrator, with bishops Pier Giorgio Micchiardi [it] and Nestorius Timanywa, as principal co-consecrators.[8]

Pope Francis named him nuncio to Honduras on 5 March 2015.[9]

On 29 March 2019, Pope Francis named Rugambwa apostolic nuncio to New Zealand and apostolic delegate to the countries of the Pacific Ocean.[10][11] On 25 May the responsibilities of Apostolic Nuncio to Fiji and to Palau were assigned to him.[12] On 30 November he was given additional responsibility as Apostolic Nuncio to the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga.[13] On 17 April 2020, he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Samoa as well.[14] On 2 February 2021, Rugambwa was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Cook Islands, a post that had been vacant since 2018,[15] and on 30 March to Micronesia.[16]

Ill health

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On 29 October 2023, Rugambwa suffered a severe stroke. He first remained at Wellington Hospital in a serious, but stable condition.[17][18] As a result, he has not been able to attend events, primarily: The Presentation of the Pallium to Archbishop Paul Martin (5 November) at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington and the reinstatement of the Blessed Sacrament into the High Altar and blessing of the Cathedral Angels of St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin (19 November). On 23 November, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference announced he was transferred Kenepuru Hospital to begin his rehabilitation proper.[19] He travelled to Rome in March 2024 to continue his rehabilitation at a Catholic facility there.[20]

On 27 July 2024, he resigned his position as nuncio to New Zealand and delegate to the Pacific Ocean.[21][22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Rugambwa appointed papal nuncio for New Zealand". dailynews.co.tz. Archived from the original on 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  3. ^ "Pope Francis appoints Tanzanian to represent the Vatican in New Zealand". East African Business Week. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  4. ^ "Ex-alunni 1950-1999, Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica". Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy (in Italian). Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  5. ^ "New apostolic nuncio appointed to New Zealand and the Pacific". CathNews NZ Pacific. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  6. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 06.02.2010" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 20.02.2010" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Rugambwa Appointed Papal Nuncio for New Zealand". Daily News (Tanzania). 31 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 05.03.2015" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Pope Francis Appoints Tanzanian To Represent The Vatican In New Zealand". Business Week (in Italian). 3 April 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 29.03.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 25.05.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 30.11.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 17.04.2020" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Rugambwa named Cook Islands Nuncio". Catholic Daily. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 30.03.2021" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Papal ambassador to New Zealand 'stable' after serious stoke". Cath News New Zealand. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  18. ^ "Please keep Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa in your prayers". Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  19. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  20. ^ "Papal Nuncio Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa returning to Rome" (Press release). New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. 16 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 27.07.2024". Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "Archbishop Gábor Pintér Appointed Pope's Representative To Aotearoa New Zealand". Retrieved July 28, 2024.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Titular Archbishop of Tagaria
6 February 2010 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to São Tomé and Príncipe
6 February 2010 – 5 March 2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to Angola
20 February 2010 – 5 March 2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras
5 March 2015 – 29 March 2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand
29 March 2019 – 27 July 2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Delegate to the Pacific Ocean
29 March 2019 – 27 July 2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to Fiji and Palau
25 May 2019 – 27 July 2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga
30 November 2019 – 27 July 2024 		Succeeded by
vacant
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to Samoa
17 April 2020 – 27 July 2024 		Succeeded by
vacant
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to the Cook Islands
2 February 2021 – 27 July 2024 		Succeeded by
vacant
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to Micronesia
30 March 2021 – 27 July 2024 		Succeeded by
vacant
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