Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Romanus Elamu Mihali, of the clergy of the diocese of Mafinga, as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Iringa in Tanzania. He will succeed Mons. Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa, who retired from the pastoral care of the same diocese at the age of 76.
By Jaime C. Patias *
The appointment of Mons. Romanus Mihali who has been serving as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy in the Diocese of Mafinga and Parish Priest of the Virgin Mary of the Assumption Parish in Ujewa, was published by the Holy See Press office on January 28 and confirmed by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) on the same day. “We pray for good health and spiritual strength for the Bishop-elect as he begins his new ministry”, said the members of TEC in their letter.
During a recent visit to Rome, where he was hosted by the General House of the Consolata Missionaries, Mons. Romanus gave an interview to the Communication Office, in which he talked about the joy in serving the Church as a Bishop, especially in this Year of the Jubilee of Hope, and left a message for young people around the world.
The Consolata Missionaries are present in the territory of Iringa since 1922, when it was established as Apostolic Prefecture, created from the Apostolic Vicariate of Dar es Salaam.
On 10 May 1922, Fr. Francesco Cagliero, IMC, (1875 – 1935) was appointed as the first Apostolic Prefect of Iringa. The Apostolic Prefecture of Iringa was erected in Vicariate Apostolic Prefecture on 8 January 1948 and created a Diocese on 25 March 1953. Between 1932 and 1968 parts of the territory of the prefecture passed to the Capuchins, the Passionists and to the Diocese of Njombe, created on 16 February 1968.
Since 1973, the Institute in Tanzania has its Regional headquarters in Iringa, where the missionaries also administer the parish of Our Lady Consolata (since 1938).
Mons. Romanus Elamu Mihali
Born on 10 June 1969, in Itulituli, Mufindi, the Bishop-elect, Mons. Mihali, was ordained a Priest on 13 July 2000, for the Diocese of Iringa after completing his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Peramiho Major Seminary in Songea.
As a Priest, he has served in various capacities, including Assistant Pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Ilula, Iringa, and Teacher and Formator at St. Kizito Minor Seminary in Mafinga Diocese.
He is an alumnus of India’s University of Kerala where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Zoological Sciences, a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Sciences, and a Bachelor of Education. He also served as Assistant Parish Priest at Virgin Mary of Fatima Parish, Usokami, of Iringa Diocese.
When consecrated Bishop, on 27 April 2025 at the Iringa Cathedral, Mons. Mihali will serve as the sixth Local Ordinary of the 32,202 square-kilometre Tanzanian Diocese which has a total population of 2,155,435 of which 530,094 (24.6%) are Catholics, according to the 2024 statistics.
* Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Communications Office.
