As the global community mourns the passing of the leader of the Catholic church on Monday, April 21, 2025, a potential list of successors to Pope Francis has emerged.
With the Vatican now preparing for the sacred conclave to elect the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, two African cardinals have emerged as notable successors to Pope Francis: Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Their potential candidacies represent a historic moment, as the Catholic Church could see its first sub-Saharan African pope in modern history.
Recall that in the early hours of Monday, the demise of Pope Francis was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican’s camerlengo.
This set in motion the centuries-old process of selecting a new pontiff. Within 15 to 20 days, approximately 138 cardinal electors under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel for a secretive conclave.
Before his demise, Pope Francis appointed about 80% of these electors. He appointed cardinals from diverse regions, tilting the conclave’s composition, with 52 of the 138 electors hailing from Europe, 24 from Africa, and 24 from Asia.
Below is a brief overview of the candidacy of the two African Cardinals among would-be successors to Pope Francis
Cardinal Peter Turkson
Hailing from Ghana, Cardinal Peter Turkson is a seasoned Vatican diplomat and a prominent figure in Catholic leadership.
Appointed archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 by Pope John Paul II, Turkson became Ghana’s first cardinal in 2003.
His career trajectory continued under Pope Benedict XVI, who named him head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 2009.
Turkson’s diplomatic acumen and pastoral experience make him a strong contender. As a key advisor to Pope Francis, he attended high-profile events like the Davos Economic Forum.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the younger of the two at 65, is the Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar.
Ambongo has gained international recognition for his outspoken criticism of corruption, violence, and exploitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Appointed a cardinal in 2019, Ambongo’s relative youth and dynamic presence make him an appealing choice for electors seeking a pope with longevity and vigour.
Meanwhile, selecting a pope is a complex process. It requires a two-thirds majority among electors to choose from a notable list of successors to Pope Francis.
Follow live update on Pope Francis’s death, succession and global reactions here on Pan-Atlantic Kompass
