Among some of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communications staff awarded with papal honours for services to the Church’s communication ministry is Tanzania born Fr Richard Mjigwa.
On the feast day of the Archangel Gabriel, patron saint of telecommunications, various members of staff in the Dicastery for Communication received high honours from Pope Francis for services to the Church’s communications ministry.
According to Vatican News, on 29 September was a great day for members of the Dicastery for Communication staff as some of them were recognised for excellent and long service at Vatican Radio and within the dicastery, respectively.
Fr Richard Mjigwa, a Tanzanian religious priest of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, received the “Cross of Honour” medal and a certificate for his work at Vatican Radio’s KiSwahili Service.
He received the award at a colourful ceremony attended by all the various branches of the Dicastery for Communication. Dr Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery, presented the awards.
Fr Mjigwa becomes the second African at Vatican Radio to receive a papal award. Tanzanian national Mrs Thabita Janeth Mhella, who retired as a journalist of Vatican Radio’s KiSwahili Service, received a papal award just before retiring on 29 September 2016.
Fr Mjigwa has worked for Vatican Radio since 2008.
The “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” medal, in Latin, signifies ‘For Church and Pope’.
It is an award established by Pope Leo XIII in 1888.
The award is for deserving clergy or lay persons and is for services done for the Church and its head.
