The Tanzanian-born Catholic Church leader, who began his Episcopal Ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Dodoma in March 2011, emphasized that holiness is not a calling for Catholics alone but for all people, explaining that when individuals do good to one another, they draw closer to holiness.
“The legacy that Mwalimu left us is enough evidence that he aimed for holiness,” said Archbishop Nyaisonga, and went on to attribute the ongoing inspiration among the people of God in Tanzania to continue praying for the canonization cause of the late President of Tanzania to his rich and enduring legacy.
He noted that the president of Tanzania between 1964 and 1984 “left us a rich political heritage, from the time he joined the struggle for the nation’s independence to his leadership in strengthening national unity.”
“He worked to ensure democratic reforms, and even when the country adopted a multiparty system, he fulfilled his duties faithfully,” he said, adding that the legacy went beyond politics to social and economic affairs.
The Archbishop of the Mbeya Metropolitan See since December 2018 noted that through the “Arusha Declaration in 1967, the former Tanzanian politician emphasized the principles of socialism and self-reliance and the task of building an equal society without exploitation and one rooted in solidarity.”
He also praised Mwalimu Nyerere’s cultural vision, particularly his promotion of Kiswahili as a national language. “He left us a wonderful cultural legacy. For him, Kiswahili was a tool for national unity, education, and politics, and today we are proud to see it has become an international language,” he said.
Reflecting on the moral and spiritual qualities of the first president of Tanzania, declared a servant of God by Pope Benedict XVI on 13 May 2005, the 58-year-old Catholic Church leader described him as “humble, upright, and selfless.”
He noted that late President Nyerere always placed the interests of the nation above his own, and explained, “After retirement, he continued to live humbly without neglecting the future of the nation. When he saw things going wrong, he was never afraid to speak the truth openly.”
“Mwalimu Nyerere remains a mirror showing us the way—to see ourselves as we are, to use our talents well, and to make beneficial use of the opportunities we have to do good. In doing so, we will glorify God, and our names will not be forgotten on this earth,” said Archbishop Nyaisonga in his October 14 homily.
Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.
