Memoirs of Cardinal Rugambwa: His Last Journeys to Europe and Bukoba
By
Fr. Stanislaus
Mutajwaha, PhD
Catholic Diocese of
Bukoba, Tanzania
(Writing
from USA)
The Jubilee
celebrations over, it was now time to think of our journey back home. It was
now time for packing. But probably to His Eminence’s thinking this time meant
something more significant than simply putting together our luggage for the
flight. In one of the wardrobes I had counted not less than four red cassocks
and other garments. He will have worn those on various occasions while in Rome.
Besides, there were several other personal effects in other cabinets of his
apartment. One might have thought that these things would preoccupy His
Eminence’s mind. But by the impression I got, they never did.
By
that time His Eminence was above 84 years old. Although he was definitely aware
that he was a Cardinal he also knew equally well that at his age he was no
longer counted as one of the electors. (Cardinal electors are those who have
the right and duty to participate in the election of a new pope). He was aware
that despite his advanced age he could in principle still be chosen Pope even
if he could not cast a vote for one, but considering his health condition maybe
he did not think that such a thing still remained a likely probability. In fact, back at Collegio San Pietro in the
evening of the celebration of the Pope’s Jubilee His Eminence expressed his
doubts whether after his departure Rome would ever see him again. For that
reason, we might say that for His Eminence, the period between Pope John Paul’s
Jubilee and our flight back to Tanzania via Belgium was his time for packing
together all his old memories of his presence in Rome first as student priest,
then his being created Cardinal, his later participation in the Vatican Council
II and his many other visits thereafter including the present one. If, as he
was thinking, this was going to be his last time in Rome and Europe in general,
then his real package for Africa was a collection of the different facets of
the name he had made over the years in his capacity as the first African Prince
of the Church – and all that embodied in his person. With that accomplished,
His Eminence was ready to fly back home.
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