As the Vatican prepares for a historic conclave this week, attention has turned to a group of 16 senior Catholic leaders considered top contenders to succeed Pope Francis, with three prominent African cardinals among the potential frontrunners.
Although the papal election process is shrouded in secrecy and candidates are not officially declared, several cardinals—referred to as papabili—have drawn widespread attention due to their global influence, leadership experience, and theological leanings. …CONTINUE READING
African Contenders
Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana), 76, the Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast, is widely seen as a strong candidate and has long been mentioned as a possible first Black pope.
Elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003, Turkson has served as a papal envoy and mediator in global conflict zones, including South Sudan. He led the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development from 2016 to 2021. Though critical of anti-gay legislation in Uganda, he maintains conservative Catholic views, insisting homosexuality is not a human rights issue.
Cardinal Robert Sarah (Guinea), 79, is another prominent African contender. A staunch conservative, he served as the Vatican’s liturgy chief and is well-regarded among traditionalist Catholics, especially in Francophone regions. Though he will turn 80 in June—just weeks away from being ineligible to vote in the conclave—his vocal opposition to liberal reforms has heightened his visibility.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of Congo), 65, the Archbishop of Kinshasa, represents a younger generation of Church leadership. A key adviser to Pope Francis and leader of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Ambongo has been outspoken on social issues and Church teachings. In 2024, he joined other African bishops in opposing Vatican allowances for same-sex blessings.
European Front-Runners
Topping the list from Europe is Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy), 70, who served as the Vatican Secretary of State for nearly Pope Francis’s entire papacy. Parolin is regarded as a diplomatic heavyweight with a strong grasp of Church bureaucracy and has played central roles in major Vatican decisions, including the 2018 agreement with China on episcopal appointments.
Also in the spotlight is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), 60, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. As the highest-ranking Catholic in the Middle East, he gained global attention by leading Christmas Mass in Gaza and Jerusalem in 2024 amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Other notable European figures include Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy), 69, known for his social advocacy and role as Pope Francis’s peace envoy to Ukraine; Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti (Italy), 69, a specialist in Eastern Churches with extensive diplomatic experience; and Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (France), 66, a respected theological figure with roots in Algeria and ministry in multicultural Marseille.
With the conclave set to begin amid speculation and uncertainty, observers say the eventual choice will reflect the Church’s response to global crises, doctrinal tensions, and the growing influence of the Global South.
