VATICAN, Italy – When the College of Cardinals meets at the Vatican in two to three weeks to choose a new pope to succeed Pope Francis, who passed away early on Easter Monday from stroke and heart failure, the Kenyan vote will be elusive.
After Cardinal Maurice Otunga (deceased), Cardinal John Njue became the second Kenyan to be promoted to cardinal by the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. However, at the age of 81, he is no longer eligible to vote.
The Kenyan cardinal is excluded from the conclave for choosing a new pope because the maximum age for a cardinal to cast a ballot if the pope passes away or becomes incompetent is 80 years old.
There will be no Kenyan representation when the college of cardinals meets in 2-3 weeks to elect the next pope. John Cardinal Njue, the second Kenyan to be created cardinal (by the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2007), is 81. Cardinal electors have to be below 80 years of age.
Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, a 76-year-old Vatican official, is the African hope for the first Pope since 698 AC.
Turkson garnered a lot of attention by attending numerous conferences on behalf of the Pope and was one of his closest advisors on matters like climate change.
Some perceived a power struggle between Turkson and another cardinal after Francis combined his department with three other positions in 2016.
Why Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea has been praised by Catholics
In 2021, Turkson left that position to become the chairman of two pontifical academies focused on the social and scientific disciplines.
He told the BBC in 2023 that he prayed “against” the chance of becoming pope, but several of his critics claimed that his media appearances suggested he was running for the position.
The 79-year-old Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea is another African pope who has been praised.
He has been a strong voice in opposing Islamic radicalism and defending traditional Catholic teaching on issues of sexual morality and the right to life.
It has been said that Sarah was generally in favour of liturgical customs that existed before the Second Vatican Council, but she also suggested that supporters of various liturgies try to find common ground and learn from one another.
🚨 WOW! One of the frontrunners for Pope, Cardinal Robert Sarah, is a HARDLINER against mass migration
Pope Victor I, who presided over the church from 189 to 199, is one of three Black popes in Catholic history, according to the Catholic Church. Pope Gelasius 1 (492-496) and Pope Miltiades (311-314).
The Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is frequently referred to as the “Asian Francis” because, if elected, he would be the first Asian pope.
Why Pope Francis would rally behind Cardinal Juan Jose Omella
Pope Francis would be proud of Cardinal Juan Jose Omella, the Archbishop of Barcelona.
Despite his impressive title, he is a modest and kind man who devotes his church career to pastoral care, social justice advocacy, and a compassionate and inclusive understanding of Catholicism.
Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, French, aged 66, is known in some domestic Catholic circles as John XXIV, in homage to his likeness to Pope John XXIII, the round-faced reforming pope of the early 1960s.
Pope Francis once joked that John XXIV might be the name of his successor.
If he earned the top job, Aveline would become the first French pope since the 14th century, a volatile period in which the papacy moved to Avignon.
John Paul II would also be the youngest pope. His ability to understand but not speak Italian could be a significant disadvantage for a position that simultaneously carries the title of Bishop of Rome and necessitates extensive knowledge of Roman intrigues and power struggles.
The 72-year-old Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo would unavoidably be viewed as a compromise candidate if chosen; he is a conservative who has still established ties with Francis’ progressive world.
What role does Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech play at the Vatican
Pope Francis selected 68-year-old Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech for the powerful role of secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, which is a major position within the Vatican. He moved quickly and spent years leading the Church in Francis’s reforms.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, an Italian Vatican diplomat aged 70, has served as Pope Francis’ secretary of state since 2013, when Francis was elected.
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, 67, who goes by his nickname “Chito,” appears to meet all the requirements to become pope.
He has had decades of pastoral experience since his ordination to the clergy in 1982. After that, he acquired administrative expertise while serving as the archbishop of Manila and subsequently as the bishop of Imus. In 2012, he was appointed a cardinal by Pope Benedict.
I pray that the new Pope will continue #PopeFrancis‘ good legacy. The #Philippines‘ @CardinalChito is one of the leading candidates, per @Newsweek: “Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, is considered a strong contender to continue Pope Francis’s progressive agenda.”
Cardinal Joseph Tobin is a 72-year-old American archbishop from Newark, New Jersey.
The world’s cardinals are unlikely to choose the first American pope, but Tobin would appear to be the most plausible candidate if they were willing.
Since December 12, 2015, the 69-year-old Italian prelate Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi has served as the Archbishop of Bologna. Between 2012 and 2015, he served as Rome’s auxiliary bishop.
