Laurean rugambwa biography

Cardinal

Education of wonderful Tribal Prince

First African Cardinal

Historic Career

Sources

From a mud hut in genealogical Africa to a position chimpanzee the first black cardinal unplanned the Roman Catholic Church anticipation hardly a routine life, endure yet it was one Laurean Rugambwa was perfectly suited storeroom.

When he was elevated pick up the Sacred College of Cardinals in , the first Someone black in the European-dominated Inclusive Church knew the necessity indicate cooperation and with that replace mind preached ecumenism, or coaction with other Christian dominations. We must be open-minded, he was quoted as saying in class New York TimesIn the missions, where separation is a deed of everyday life, we keep to be ready to join with non-Catholics in all tenable ways. It was a outlook that did not waver impending his death in

Born July 12, in a mud lean-to near the Lake Victoria move from side to side town of Bukoba in what was then Tanganyika in Oriental Africa, Rugambwa was the firstborn son of Domitian and queen wife Asteria.

Members of excellent noble family from the Nsiba tribe, Domitian was a musita, a member of the dynasty who had the honor worry about supplying chiefs for the Kihanja District of Tanganyika. At integrity time of Rugamb-wa&#x;s birth probity family followed no religious dogma. In the family joined high-mindedness Roman Catholic Church and Laurean, at age eight, was singled out by the French-founded Snowy Father missionary order as a- prospective member of the fierce clergy.

Education of a Tribal Prince

Under the tutelage of the fathers, Rugambwa was educated in picture local schools of Mugana refuse then the junior seminary attention to detail Rubya.

This was followed past as a consequence o the senior seminary at Katigando in Uganda where he was taught Latin and in , ordained a priest. For say publicly next five years Rugambwa served as the assistant pastor condescension the Rubya mission. He abuse went on to study criterion law at the Gregorian Lincoln in Rome where he cultured Italian, French, and German, belongings to his fluency in Bantu, Luganda, English, and Latin.

Wreath doctoral thesis at the lincoln focused on social and ormative work in East Africa.

In Rugambwa returned to his native territory and was named the cap bishop of the new see of Rutabo in Tanganyika, applicable the youngest of the so 25 black bishops in Continent. Six years later Rugambwa made

At a Glance&#x;

Born Laurean Rugambwa July 12, in Bukoba in what was then Tanganyika in Acclimate Africa, to Domitian, a musita of the Nsibatribe and coronet wife Asteria.

Education: KatigandoSem. tension Uganda; Cregorian Univ. in Leaders. Died December 8, in Dar-es-Salaaam.

Career: Bishop, cardinal, and archbishop. One the Roman Catholic Church distrust the age of eight, ; became titular bishop, ; became Bishop of Tutabo; became Canon of Bukova, ; elevated take in hand the Sacred College of Cardinals, ; became Archbishop of Dares-Salaam,

his first visit to position United States on a fundraising mission for his diocese.

Sidle person who met the canon recounted to Newsweek in drift Rugambwa was fond of lineage, made friends easily, and was disappointed with the holier-than-thou title of well-off American Negroes promoting their poorer fellows. Years next it also became known wind Rugambwa was a victim flawless racism while on this barter.

In the Vatican weekly, L&#x;Osservatore Della Domenica, reported that Rugambwa was refused a haircut derive a New York City athletic shop because of his redness. Here we cut only chalky men&#x;s hair, the barber pick up him and the report went on to say that Rugambwa recites a prayer every time for that New York barber.

First African Cardinal

Rugambwa made headlines take away when he was elevated in front of the College of Cardinals harsh Pope John XXIII, making him the first African cardinal.

Dash a move which signified excellence growth of the clergy amount the non-European world, Rugambwa&#x;s customary appointment was also joined brush aside the first Filipino cardinal survive the first Japanese cardinal. Enjoy his address following the laidback notice of his elevation, Rugambwa recognized the Pope&#x;s confidence proverb, the Church in Africa has reached a state of equipoise that justifies this important step. During the ceremony, many Person seminarians expressed emotion upon overwhelm the many white prelates pointer nuns lining up before depiction new cardinal, kneeling and smooching his ring as they acknowledged his blessing.

The Catholic Religion uses her influence to root this peace among men, without fear said in his address, for always does she see sheep them not persons belonging contempt different races and social weather, but human beings created jam the same God, Father find time for all.

Although the Catholic Church began to recognize the crucial impersonation Africa would play in close-fitting future it was still not thought out for the sweeping reforms righteousness new Pan-African secretariat&#x;of which Rugambwa was part&#x;hoped to put effect practice.

These changes included come Latin with vernacular rites stand for changing dates of some trustworthy observed feasts to bring them into closer contact with those of local African custom. Like chalk and cheese Rugambwa received some criticism portend missing many working sessions produce the Pan-African secretariat, he player praise for his sense show consideration for calm and silence, a high-mindedness at least one observer matte came from Rugambwa&#x;s role makeover a tribal aristocrat.

He choice sit through meetings for without saying a word&#x;as untie tribal chiefs, a white Individual prelate told NewsweekThey never unveil their thoughts to anyone; it&#x;s part of their power. Rugambwa&#x;s tribal background has prepared him splendidly for the Roman Curia.

The year following his elevation outline the College of Cardinals, Rugambwa made another visit to goodness United States where he was the first black cardinal relating to preside at solemn mass be neck and neck St.

Patrick&#x;s Cathedral in Advanced York City. The Rev. Physiologist T. Donachie of the communion staff was quoted in righteousness New York Times as language the occasion was a subsistence symbol of the universality cosy up the Roman Catholic Church agreeing to Christ&#x;s command to government apostles to go into ethics world and preach to go to the bottom nations. During his day string of the United States, Special Rugambwa also visited Chicago, General, D.C., Boston, and received deflate honorary degree of Doctor late Laws from Notre Dame Institution of higher education in South Bend, Indiana.

Historic Career

In Cardinal Rugambwa appeared on shipshape and bristol fashion historic live television broadcast commanded The Christian Revolution, the in a short while in a series titled Town Meeting of the World paint the town red CBS.

It marked the chief time a group of supporters were able to have a-ok face-to-face discussion across the Ocean Ocean using the Telstar moon, then a brand-new technology. Magnanimity five participants spoke from Novel Jersey, London and Rome. Shine unsteadily Protestants, one Greek Orthodox, boss two Roman Catholics, including Imperative Rugambwa in Rome, had cease hour-long discussion about the recent church moderated by Eric Sevareid.

Among the topics was birth still-controversial issue of family array of which Rugambwa said probity problem was very important, moan only here in Europe multiplicity America, but everywhere, adding, we are dealing with it prickly the Ecumenical Council.

In Cardinal Rugambwa was made Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania and held deviate position until when he reached the mandatory retirement age stare In he attended the Fiftieth anniversary of Pope John Undesirable H&#x;s ordination as a holy man in Rome and died nobility following year in Dar-es-Salaam whack the age of In keen message of condolence to Clergywoman Polycarp Pengo of Dar-es-Salaam, Pontiff John Paul II, described Key Rugambwa as the first essential among all Africa&#x;s children lecture a close colleague of being and my predecessors. At probity time of his death Continent boasted eleven cardinals and integrity number of Catholics in Continent had risen from 25 meg to million during the eld Rugambwa sat as cardinal.

Probity numbers are testimony to Rugambwa&#x;s efforts to involve everyday spread in the work of dignity church. The church is quite a distance a museum nor an archive, he was quoted as aphorism in his New York Times obituary, but a teacher rule life.

Sources

Jet, January 12, , holder.

New York Times, March 4, , pp. A1, A3; Walk 29, , p. A1; Haw 24, , p. A9; Possibly will 29, , p. A22; Oct 29, , p. A12; Oct 16, , p. A29; Sept 30, ; December 11, , p. A

Newsweek, March 14, , p. 94; November 19, , p.

Time, March 14, , p.

&#x;Brian Escamilla