By Ghazali Ibrahim
In the wake of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, 2025, the Catholic Church is preparing for a conclave to elect his successor.
Among the leading candidates is Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, a prominent figure in the Vatican and a strong advocate for social justice.
Cardinal Turkson, 76, has had a distinguished career within the Church.
He served as the Archbishop of Cape Coast from 1992 to 2009 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
Turkson has held significant positions in the Vatican, including President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Currently, he serves as the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences.
Known for his commitment to addressing global issues such as poverty, climate change, and economic inequality, Turkson has been a vocal proponent of the Church’s role in promoting human dignity and social justice.
His leadership during Ghana’s 2008 elections, where he played a key role in preventing violence, has been particularly noted.
However, the history of Vatican City showed Popes who are of African descent; Pope Victor I, who headed the church from 189-199, Pope Miltiades (311-314), and Pope Gelasius I, who was pope from 492-496.
If elected, Turkson would join the list of Popes of African descent after decades of years in the history of the Catholic Church.
The continent has seen significant growth in its Catholic population, making the prospect of an African pope increasingly relevant.
Other notable contenders include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, known for his pastoral approach and dubbed the “Asian Francis”; Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, the Vatican’s Secretary of State with extensive diplomatic experience; and Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary, recognized for his theological expertise.
