As Catholics and the world at large prepares for the burial of the head of Catholic Church, Mario Bergoglio, popularly called Pope Francis, there are indications that the potential successor to the deceased Pontiff, will be one of an African cardinal.
The leading African cardinals, who have been considered as the major contender for the position of a Catholic head were Peter Turkson of Ghana and Robert Sarah of Guinea.
This indication came after the Vatican announced during the Easter celebration, the passing of the Bishop of Rome, who died at the age of 88 years after battling with bilateral pneumonia and several other prolonged illnesses.
As the church prepares for a conclave to elect a successor for the Pope, who will be buried on the 26th of April, the African cardinals were said to have garnered attention for their progressive views, pastoral experience, and commitment to social justice, resonating with many in the Church who seek a leader to guide the faithful in an increasingly complex world.
Cardinal Turkson, described by the Catholic community and those familiar with his work as a voice for social justice, has long been considered a strong candidate for the papacy.
The 76-years-old Padre, who was the former Archbishop of Cape Coast and a Vatican official, has been a prominent advocate for social justice, addressing issues such as poverty and environmental degradation.
Turkson’s moderate views on matters like homosexuality and his diplomatic experience, including serving as a peace envoy to South Sudan, have bolstered his reputation as a unifying figure within the Church.
Sarah, meanwhile described as a man who upholds traditional doctrine, is known for his conservative stance on Church teachings and being vocal critic of liberal reforms, an opposite of Turkson’s moderate view on social matters.
The 79-years-old Cardinal’s strong defense of clerical celibacy and opposition to the blessing of same-sex unions have resonated with conservative factions within the Church.
The potential election of either Turkson or Sarah would mark a historic moment, as the Church has never had a Black pope. With Catholicism experiencing significant growth in Africa, the selection of an African pope could reflect the shifting demographics and global nature of the Church.
The election will usher in the successor of the deceased Pope, who suffered various ailments during his 12-year papacy, with severe complications in recent weeks following a bout of double pneumonia for which he spent 38 days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli, on Tuesday, disclosed that the Catholic head died of “cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse adding that Francis also suffered from arterial hypertension, multiple bronchiectasis and Type 2 diabetes, ailments which had not been previously disclosed.
The Vatican also released Pope Francis’s spiritual testament, a written statement of faith, in which he said he wished to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major and not at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, unlike many of his predecessors.
The text specified Pope Francis wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
As the conclave approaches, the College of Cardinals faces the task of choosing a leader who can navigate the Church through contemporary challenges while honoring its rich traditions.
