18 African Cardinals Selected to Vote for New Pope
As the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new leader following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, 18 African cardinals will be among the 135 eligible cardinal-electors tasked with choosing the next pope in the upcoming conclave.
Although the College of Cardinals consists of 252 members, only those under the age of 80 are permitted to vote. Europe dominates with 53 electors, followed by Asia (23), Africa (18), South America (17), and North America (16), while Oceania and Central America have the least, with four electors each.
Among the African cardinal-electors are notable figures such as
Fridolin Besungu (DR Congo)
Ignace Dogbo (Ivory Coast)
Stephen Brislin (South Africa)
Peter Okpaleke (Nigeria)
Robert Sarah (Guinea)
Peter Turkson (Ghana)
John Njue (Kenya)
Jean-Pierre Kutwa (Ivory Coast)
Berhaneyesus Souraphiel (Ethiopia)
Antoine Kambanda (Rwanda)
Desire Tsarahazana (Madagascar)
and others from Algeria, Morocco, Cape Verde, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso.
These cardinals represent the diversity, growth, and spiritual depth of the African Church, and several, such as Cardinal Robert Sarah and Fridolin Besungu, are even considered papabile candidates who could potentially become the next pope.
Out of the 135 electors, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis, indicating his strong influence on the future direction of the Church. The remaining were appointed by Pope Benedict XVI (22) and Pope John Paul II (5).
The cardinals have begun general congregations at the Vatican, discussing preparations for Pope Francis’ funeral scheduled for Saturday and laying the groundwork for the conclave.
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On Wednesday, Pope Francis’ body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration, following a private lying-in-state at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where Cardinal Kevin Farrell led initial blessings.
During the conclave, cardinal-electors take a sacred oath of secrecy, swearing not to disclose any aspect of the election process. All contact with the outside world, including phones, radio, internet, and media, is strictly forbidden.
The election will take place inside the Sistine Chapel, beneath Michelangelo’s iconic fresco of the Last Judgment. Voting happens in multiple rounds daily until a candidate receives at least two-thirds plus one of the votes.
Ballots are burnt after each vote: black smoke signals an inconclusive vote, while white smoke announces the election of a new pope, a sign the world watches for in anticipation.
The conclave will reflect on critical matters like the future of evangelism, the state of the Roman Curia, global challenges facing the Church, and improving its relationship with the world.
While the Church mourns the loss of a reformative and humble leader, the process to elect a new shepherd promises to be one of deep reflection, diversity, and potential change.
As African cardinals stand as a growing voice in the global Catholic Church, many are hopeful that the next pope could come from the continent, a historic possibility in a time of spiritual and social transformation.
Content credit: Oyedepo Oluwafifedoyinsola
Image credit: vaticannews.va/
