AFRICA/TANZANIA - Appointment of Bishop of Tanga

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On June 7, the Holy Father appointed the Reverend Thomas John Kiangio, of the clergy of Tanga, until now diocesan administrator of the same see, as bishop of Tanga, Tanzania.
Msgr. Thomas John Kiangio was born on 17 March 196 in Mazinde Ngua, diocese of Tanga. After attending the Saint Joseph Minor Seminary and the Saint Peter Minor Seminary, he continued his studies in philosophy at the Saint Anthony Major Seminary in Ntungamo, diocese of Bukoba, and theology at the Saint Charles Mwanga Major Seminary in Segerea, archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam. He also had pastoral experience in the Mlingano parish in the diocese of Tanga, and carried out a course in clinical pastoral education at Bugando Medical Hospital in Mwanza.
He was ordained a priest on 16 July 1997 for the diocese of Tanga.
Following ordination, he first served as deputy parish priest of the Lushoto parish (1997-1998) and as teacher, master of discipline, vice rector and then rector of the Saint Joseph Minor Seminary (1998-1999 and 2004-2013). He was awarded a licentiate and a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome (1999-2003), and went on to hold the roles of secretary general and chancellor of the diocese of Tanga (2013-2020). Since 2020, he has served as diocesan administrator. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 8/6/2023)