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Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform or retreat? The Catholic church in Africa after Pope Francis
The Catholic church faces a fundamental question as it prepares to elect a new pope. That is, whether to go back to a monarchical papacy with its pomp and pageantry, or to build on the momentum begun by Pope Francis. He focused on the poor and proffered a humble lifestyle and message of hope. I am a theologian who has studied the development of Catholicism in Africa, especially under the leadership of Pope Francis. In my view, the church after him will be defined by two forces, which will be at play during the process of choosing a new pope. First, those who embrace Pope Francis' wide-ranging, modernising changes in the Catholic church. The reform-minded pope made it possible to advance a new church culture that respected the voice and agency of the non-ordained. He pushed for a servant leadership, and a more pastoral, missionary, and accountable exercise of authority. In the second camp are those Catholics who oppose the reforms introduced by Pope Francis. They see cultural evolution and social change as destroying the traditions and teachings of the church. They would like to restore the Latin Mass with its ancient church rituals and male clerical culture. Read more: These camps are entrenched in their positions. The 138 cardinals (18 of whom are Africans) who will elect the new pope will voice their views at meetings held ahead of the conclave. These processes will determine who will be elected. The 18 African cardinal-electors will be fully aware that the divisive issues in contemporary Catholicism often neglect the concerns and needs of Africa. These concerns include a continued colonial structure, and racialised thinking and mentality that sees Africa as one country rather than a continent of diversity and pluralism. My hope is that the cardinals will find among their ranks someone in the mould of Pope Francis who has a far-reaching vision. Someone with the courage to continue reforming the ecclesial systems and structures to meet this moment with the gospel of love. Pope Francis often pointed to Africa, which is seeing the highest growth in population in the Catholic church, as the continent of joy and hope. A continent where the world can see how religious faith can bring about a different attitude to human relationship, communal resilience, solidarity, and global fraternity. But African Catholicism has been severely affected by the polarisation in the broader church. This is particularly true on issues of marriage and family life. Other polarising issues include same-sex marriages, climate change, the place of women in leadership in a patriarchal church, and the autonomy of local African Catholic dioceses from the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic bishops of Africa need to be united in addressing these issues. In particular, there is a growing consensus that the most pressing challenge facing African Catholicism is how to wean itself from being dependent on resources from the west. The Catholic church in Africa – despite its exponential growth – is still treated as a 'mission territory', in need of institutional, theological, pastoral and material support from Rome. As a result, it receives financial support for its activities, and the running of schools and social agencies, from the Roman Church and other western Catholic charities. This dependency has affected the growth and autonomy of African Catholics and churches in setting forth and implementing priorities and projects that address the unique situation of Africa. As mission churches, African Catholic churches are 'under the protection' of the Roman agency in charge of evangelisation. As a result, there are limits to what African churches can do on their own without the permission and supervision of the Roman office. A self-reliant Catholic church in Africa that's free from the control of Rome would be able to stand strong in world Catholicism. A less dependent African Catholic church could be an alternative staging ground for new forms of faith that meet the spiritual hunger of today's world. This would mean providing vibrancy of worship and a sense of community through the social and spiritual bonds that exist in African churches. Read more: Given the changing demographics in the world church – where a majority of the 1.4 billion Catholics live outside Europe – it's clear that Africa and the rest of the global south can no longer accept being dominated by Eurocentric Catholicism. Catholicism cannot be reduced to a single cultural or ecclesial form. It is not a western prototype that has to be replicated in Africa and the rest of the global south without regard to the social, spiritual and cultural contexts of churches in these regions. Viewed in this light, the future of Catholicism in Africa must be built on the agency of African cultures, religious values and traditions. Not on a rigid centralisation of power that reduces African dioceses, institutions and congregations to outposts of Rome. The Catholic church in Africa must take the lead in promoting human rights, good governance and the empowerment of women. It needs to reflect the values of inclusion through its leadership, structures and priorities. Pope Francis' attention to the poor and the victims of history, and his commitment to global solidarity and fraternity, captured the imaginations of many. In my view, the power that the Catholic church or the next pope will wield won't arise from the power of position or a rigid doctrinal formula. It will come from the power of non-transactional and self-effacing love through gospel non-violence. This promotes reconciliation, justice and compassion. Catholicism suffers when it narrows what it means to be Catholic to rituals and repetitive communal practices and devotions, without attention to people's personal experience and encounters with God, nature and others. Or when it interprets as normative and divine revelation those traditions, laws or structures that are the product of history, culture and human attempts to meet the challenges of a bygone age. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Stan Chu Ilo, DePaul University Read more: Pope Francis's death reveals a hidden truth about public grief How Pope Francis became a climate change influencer Pope Francis began the process for Antoni Gaudí's sainthood – an architect explains why Stan Chu Ilo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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The South African
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Next Pope could change everything [video]
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. For the latest political news, bookmark The South African website's dedicated section for free-to-read content 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. Looking for quick updates? Watch News in a Minute videos on The South African's YouTube page for all the key stories you need to know! Catch all the latest videos on news, lifestyle, travel, sports and more – there's always something to watch! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky to stay connected and get your news on the go!
The South African
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Could the next Pope come from Africa?
As the Catholic Church prepares to select a new leader, hopes are that the next pontiff could be the first Black pope in modern history. Image: AFP 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. Three prominent African cardinals 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. Cardinal Ambongo is widely respected for his efforts to promote peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Cardinal Dogbo, who was made a cardinal in December 2024, represents a newer wave of African Church leadership gaining visibility on the global stage. 'This is a unique moment for the Church,' said Fr. Emmanuel Adebayo, a theologian based in Nigeria. 'The Catholic population in Africa is vibrant and growing. 'Elevating a Black pope would be both a reflection of demographic reality and a symbol of unity in diversity.' Despite the growing optimism, Vatican observers remain cautious. Some insiders point to the limited public scrutiny African cardinals have faced compared to their Western counterparts as a potential concern. Moreover, many African clergy hold conservative positions on social issues, particularly LGBTQ+ rights – stances that may contrast with the more progressive legacy of Pope Francis. Nevertheless, the prospect of an African pope is being viewed by many as a continuation of Francis's focus on the global South and the marginalised. Throughout his papacy, Francis championed inclusion, simplicity, and a shift away from Eurocentric traditions, all of which could lend momentum to calls for a historic choice in the upcoming conclave. As the College of Cardinals prepares to gather in the Sistine Chapel in the coming days, the world watches with anticipation. Whether or not the next pope will come from Africa, the growing calls for change underscore a Church in transition – wrestling with its past, responding to its present, and looking toward a more inclusive future. There are 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to select Pope Francis's successor. Europe 53 Asia 23 Latin America 21 Africa 18 North America 16 Oceania 4 Do you believe the Catholic Church are ready for a black Pope? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
