Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at his home in Vatican City. Lawful in the future earlier, he had appeared at St. Peter’s Square in the course of the Easter celebration, waving to the crowd, even though he used to be recuperating from double pneumonia.
Now that Pope Francis is long previous, of us are discussing who will become the next pope. This time, two African Cardinals are amongst the high names being actually apt: Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungo from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Their names are important due to they price how Africa is turning into extra important in the Catholic Church, specifically as the substitute of Catholics on the continent keeps growing.
1. Cardinal Peter Turkson (Age 76, from Ghana)
Cardinal Turkson is the only Cardinal from Ghana. He grew to become a Cardinal in 2003, chosen by Pope John Paul II. He is known for his deep knowledge of the Bible and speaks several languages. He helped write a well-known Church doc (Laudato Si’) about preserving the ambiance.
Despite the indisputable truth that many individuals appreciate him, some survey him as “too innovative,” that would possibly perhaps perhaps honest like affected his potentialities of turning into pope in the previous. In 2021, he used to be moved from a high divulge in the Vatican to a lower one, making some of us wonder if he would possibly perhaps perhaps well prepare the fleshy responsibilities of the pope.
2. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungo (Age 65, from DRC)
Cardinal Ambongo is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He grew to become a Cardinal in 2019 and leads the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, one amongst the biggest Catholic areas in the world, with round 7 million members.
Other individuals know him for being humble, focused on helping others, and working for peace. He doesn’t seem in the news a lot open air Africa, but many in the Church savor his work. Like Pope Francis, he belongs to a non secular teach, now no longer a unheard of diocese, which provides him a unfamiliar ogle on Church management.
Why This Is Main
For a protracted time, of us like hoped that an African would possibly perhaps perhaps well become pope. Now, that hope would possibly perhaps perhaps honest in the end come appropriate. The Catholic Church is growing rapidly in Africa, and it will perhaps perchance well be time for a pope who comes from this share of the world.
If either Turkson or Ambongo turns into pope, it will perhaps perchance well be a substantial 2nd for the Church and for Catholics all the arrangement through Africa. It will additionally price that the Church is engrossing to teach its world diversity and welcome recent management.
The course of to determine the recent pope is set to initiate. All eyes at the 2nd are on Africa to acknowledge what’s going to happen next.
