The possibility of a pope from the African origin after Pope Francis, is no longer a mere speculation. This comes in a reflection of the evolving global face of the Catholic Church.
Among the frontrunners is Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson, a well-respected Vatican figure known for championing climate action and social justice. At 76, Turkson would be the first Black pope in over 1,500 years, harking back to early African popes like Gelasius I.
The candidacy of Cardinal Peter Turkson comes at a time where Catholicism center is shifting toward the Global South, where Africa is now one of the Church’s fastest-growing regions. While some conservatives may resist such a groundbreaking change, Turkson’s blend of progressive social views and adherence to traditional doctrine positions him as a bridge between modernity and orthodoxy.
Another African, Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, also garners attention, though his staunchly conservative stances contrast sharply with Turkson’s balanced approach.
A pope from Africa, as some say, would symbolize inclusivity, potentially strengthening the Church’s presence in Africa and reaffirming Catholicism’s universality. While conclave decisions remain notoriously unpredictable, the inclusion of African cardinals among the favorites signals that the idea of a Black pope is both realistic and historic, a testament to a Church slowly catching up with its global reality.
