Cardinal Rugambwa takes possession of titular Church in Rome.

On Sunday, Tanzania’s Cardinal Protase Rugambwa took possession of his titular Church as part of his role as a Cardinal.

Paul Samasumo – Vatican City.

One of Rome’s famous city-centre square, Piazza del Popolo, was witness to Cardinal Rugambwa’s official possession of the Minor Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto.

Located between Via del Corso and Via del Babuino, Santa Maria in Montesanto and the adjacent Santa Maria dei Miracoli are known as the twin churches.

Concelebrating priests at Minor Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto.

Mass of the Artists

Santa Maria in Montesanto is best known as the Church of the Artists. Every Sunday, from the end of October to the end of June, the Mass of the Artists is held in the Basilica.

Last Sunday’s Liturgy was peppered with various Tanzanian Church melodies and traditional ululation that continued outside, after Mass, spilling into the square. Several Tanzanian priests and nuns, Tanzanian families resident in Italy were in attendance.

Also present at the ceremony were Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Others were Cardinal emeritus Robert Sarah and Sister Raffaella Petrini.

Cardinal Tagle at the ceremony.

Honorary Pastor of the Church

There was some initial bewilderment on social media. Some social media users in Tanzania wondered if the Cardinal had once again been transferred back to Rome. Cardinal Rugambwa was only installed as Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora on 10 November 2023.

It has been a long-standing tradition of the Church that a Cardinal is considered an honorary member of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome. As a result, each Cardinal is given a title to a Church in the city of Rome. The Cardinal is answerable to the Bishop of Rome – the Pope.

After taking possession, the Cardinal serves as the honorary pastor of that Church. A Cardinal’s relationship with the Church will lasts until his death. From time to time, the Cardinal is expected to celebrate the Eucharist in the Church.

A Cardinal’s titular Church is located within the geographic boundaries of the Diocese of Rome.

Mass of the titular possession.

Kairos - seize this favourable moment

During the 18 February ceremony, Cardinal Rugambwa, preaching on the Scripture readings of the day, told the congregation that the Lenten period was a favourable time for conversion.

“Jesus invites us to seize this favourable moment, the Kairos, that is, the hour of salvation that has come for all … Let us look sincerely at our lives, knowing that Christ is knocking at the door of our hearts today, inviting us to conversion,” said the Cardinal.