Prosper Balthazar Lyimo

Prosper Balthazar Lyimo (born 20 August 1964) is a Tanzanian Catholic prelate who was appointed as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bariadi, in Tanzania on 8 January 2026. The Catholic See was created that same day and is a suffragan of the Ecclasiastical Metropolitan Province of Mwanza. Before that, he was auxiliary bishop in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Arusha from 11 November 2014 until 8 January 2026. He was appointed bishop on 11 November 2014 by Pope Francis. He was consecrated at Arusha on 15 February 2015 by Josaphat Louis Lebulu, Archbishop of Arusha. He concurrently served as Titular Bishop of Vanariona, while auxiliary bishop. Pope Leo XIV created the Diocese of Bariadi, Tanzania on 8 January 2026. That same day, he appointed Bishop Prosper Balthazar Lyimo as the pioneer bishop of that new Catholic diocese.

Background and education He was born on 20 August 1964, in Kyou Village, Kilema Municipality, Moshi District, Diocese of Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, in Tanzania. He attended primary school in Ngurdoto, in the Arusha Region. He then studied at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Minor Seminary in Arusha. He studied philosophy at Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Kibosho, in the Diocese of Moshi. He then studied theology at the Saint Paul Major Seminary in Kipalapala, near Tabora. He holds a Licentiate in canon law awarded in 2007, by the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. His Doctorate in canon law was awarded in 2011 by the Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.

Priest He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Arusha on 4 July 1997. He served as a priest until 11 November 2014. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations, including: Formator in the Saint Thomas Aquinas Minor Seminary of Arusha, in Oldonyosambu from 1997 until 1999. Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Arusha from 2000 until 2004. Studies in Rome, Italy, leading to the award of aa licentiate in canon law, awarded by the Pontifical Urban University from 2004 until 2007. Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Arusha from 2007 until 2008. Studies in Ottawa, Canada leading to the award of a doctorate in canon law from Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada in 2011, having studied there since 2008. Chancellor and judicial vicar of the archdiocese from 2011 until 2014.