Watch the full version of the “Could the next Pope come from Africa?“ article – in a minute.
As the Catholic Church prepares to select a new leader following the death of Pope Francis, hopes are rising among African Catholics that the next pontiff could be the first Black pope in modern history.
The growing prominence of African Catholicism – now accounting for approximately 20% of the global Catholic population – has sparked calls for representation at the highest level of the Church hierarchy.
The African continent is currently the fastest-growing region for the Catholic Church, a trend that many believe should be reflected in the upcoming papal election.
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THREE PROMINENT AFRICAN CARDINALS FOR POPE POSITION
Among the prominent African cardinals drawing attention are Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson, Congo’s Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, and Ivory Coast’s Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo.
Cardinal Turkson, who has served in key Vatican roles and is known for his advocacy on social justice and environmental issues, has been considered a leading candidate in previous conclaves.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PREPARES TO SELECT A NEW LEADER FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS
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