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BBC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Why di cardinals choose Pope Leo XIV instead of African candidate?
As di world bin dey wait to see who dem go choose as di new leader of di Catholic Church, e get one kwesion wey many Vatican watchers bin ask: Wia di new Pope go come from? Wetin dem wonder pass na if e go come from di place wia di Catholic Church dey grow veri fast – Africa. At least three pontiffs don come from di continent in di past, but di last - Pope Gelasius I – die more dan 1,500 years ago and some tok say na time for anoda pope from Africa. Pope Francis bin want di leadership to reflect di global reach of di Church and 18 of di 108 cardinals e create na from Africa. Three of dem dey "papabile", wey mean say dem be strong contenders for di job of di Pope – Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from di Democratic Republic of Congo, Robert Sarah from Guinea, and Peter Turkson from Ghana. Dem bin consider Cardinal Turkson papabile for 2013 too, wen Pope Francis bin dey elected. Wen US-born Robert Francis Prevost dey elected, e take di name Pope Leo XIV. Catholics around di world happy, but some wonder weda dem don overlook Africa. Di papal conclave wia cardinals dey elect di Pope na confidential process, so e no dey possible to know for sure wetin dem discuss. But e possible say one kwesion dey for di top of di minds of di 133 cardinal electors, Father Lawrence Njoroge, one Catholic author and professor for Kenya Jomo Kenyatta University tok. "Make we vote for Pope wey go kontinu wit di agenda of Pope Francis, or get anoda one wey go chart a different path? I imagine say dem go dey divided on dis." Pope Francis na reformer - although e no change Church doctrine, e bring softer tone on issues like make divorced couples dey receive communion, wey effectively allow bishops to make dis decision for local level. For di end, Fr Njoroge say, e be like say while "African cardinals wey dey veri qualified to be pontiff dey, di question wey be di koko na about Pope Francis legacy". E dey possible say oda factors bin dey at play too. Di Pope gatz lead a worldwide Church, e go take on board di needs and issues for evri continent of di world. Africa still dey try to recover from di legacy of colonisation, Father Joseph Nyamunga, wey be di spiritual director of di Catholic order of di Institute of St Anne for Nairobi argue. E say, "na wounded continent". "Wars dey evriwia, for Congo, and Sudan. "You need pesin wey dey calm and stable wen you dey handle a big Church. As Pope, notin suppose dey wey go distract you from di job." Fr Nyamunga say di Catholic Church for Africa need to focus on finding dia own identity, so dat dem go fit serve ordinary pipo beta. "Di kwesion go be, wetin Africa need now? Na to be pope or to get back to our roots and find out wetin dey affect our pipo? Africa, of course, no be di only continent wia kasala dey, wit ongoing wars for di Middle East, and Europe. Di new pontiff go need direct im Church through turbulent waters, e go wit issues ranging from di rise of authoritarian leaders to financial turmoil. E gatz dey able to address di needs of di faithful for di Global South, wia di Catholic Church dey grow. But e go also dey expected to inspire and help grow di Church for Europe – wey di Vatican tok say e dey di least dynamic area. Fr Njoroge say di cardinal electors bin dey look for " candidate wey go serve di Universal Church best, irrespective of im nationality or race". Pipo see Pope Leo XIV as pesin wey dey listen, e go fit make di different factions of di Church feel heard. But perhaps more importantly, e get leg for both di Global North and South. Fr Njoroge point out say although dem born am for US, Pope Leo XIV spend many years for Peru dey do missionary work. "E don visit all di 50 kontris wia im Augustinian Order dey work. E dey for Nairobi last December and e start parishes and projects for almost all di African kontris wia im order serve." Although e no be African, pipo see say Pope Leo XIV dey able to connect wit di needs of di African faithful.
NBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- NBC News
Catholic Americans rejoice for Pope Leo XIV
In truth, the first emotion that swept this part of the square was confusion. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced the result in Latin. The 40,000 people assembled in the square got the 'habemus papam' bit — 'we have a pope' — which elicited more cheers. But the actual name was swallowed up by the cheers. 'Who did they say?' one person asked over the clamor. 'Did he say Robert Sarah?' wondered someone else, referring to the Guinean cardinal well regarded by bookmakers beforehand. Soon Prevost's name began rippling through the crowd. 'È l'americano,' one Italian said. Most Americans felt a rush of pride — though few had actually heard of the new pontiff. 'I'm ecstatic,' said Alec Maddox, 32, a consultant who lives in San Diego. Although he and his two brothers, Tommy, 30, and Jack, 28, admitted they didn't know too much about the new Pope Leo XIV either.
Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Who will be the next pope? Leading candidates who could succeed Francis
T he papal conclave to elect a new pope will begin on Wednesday. As Vatican experts gather in Rome to issue their lists of papabili, or strong candidates to run the Catholic Church, it is worth remembering that they are usually wrong. Call it divine will, call it unpredictable cardinals, but what goes on inside the Sistine Chapel before the white smoke emerges often upsets the odds and hands the role to an outsider. • Conclave: a visual guide White smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel will signify that a new pope has been elected GREGORIO BORGIA/AP The Guinean cardinal Robert Sarah went into the 2013 conclave tipped as a strong contender, only for that billing to apparently crush his chances, proving the Roman expression that 'he who enters a conclave as Pope exits as a cardinal'. No one had the Argentine
Herald Malaysia
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Meet the 5 oldest cardinals taking part in the 2025 conclave
Cardinals over the age of 80 cannot participate in a conclave. Out of the 134 cardinals under 80 taking part in the upcoming 2025 conclave, 15 are 79 years old — some making it under the cutoff just weeks before their 80th birthday. Apr 29, 2025 From left to right: Cardinal Robert Sarah, Cardinal Stanis?aw Ry?ko, Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, Cardinal Joseph Coutts, and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA; Romanuspontifex, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Courtney Mares Cardinals over the age of 80 cannot participate in a conclave. Out of the 134 cardinals under 80 taking part in the upcoming 2025 conclave, 15 are 79 years old — some making it under the cutoff just weeks before their 80th birthday. One of them, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares of Spain, opted out due to health reasons, leaving 134 electors from the original 135 eligible cardinals. The age limit for electors was introduced by Pope Paul VI in the 1970s and was confirmed by Pope John Paul II's 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis . The five oldest cardinals eligible to vote come from Spain, Guinea, Poland, Pakistan, and England. Here's a look at the oldest members of the 2025 conclave: Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, Spain — born May 16, 1945 A retired archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Osoro Sierra is known for his pastoral approach and commitment to Catholic education. After a career that included serving as archbishop of Valencia and Oviedo, he was appointed to lead the Madrid Archdiocese by Pope Francis in 2014 and made a cardinal two years later. His episcopal motto is 'Per Christum et cum ipso et in ipso,' meaning: ' Through him and with him and in him.' Cardinal Robert Sarah, Guinea — born June 15, 1945 Known for his theological orthodoxy and literary works, Cardinal Robert Sarah has served in the Roman Curia under three popes. Appointed archbishop at just 34, Sarah later held leadership positions in important Vatican departments: secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. A prolific author and a strong advocate of traditional liturgy, Sarah is considered by some a potential candidate to become the first African pope in centuries. He previously took part in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis. He speaks French, Italian, and English fluently. Cardinal Stanis?aw Ry?ko, Poland — born July 4, 1945 A veteran of the Roman Curia, Cardinal Stanis?aw Ry?ko is a former president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and was a close collaborator of Pope John Paul II. Ordained in 1969 by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla before he became pope, Ry?ko went on to serve in the Vatican for decades, quietly shaping lay Catholic initiatives. Elevated to cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI, he also participated in the 2013 conclave. Besides his native Polish, he speaks Italian, English, and German. Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Pakistan — born July 21, 1945 A pioneering figure in the Pakistani Church, Cardinal Joseph Coutts served as archbishop of Karachi and became only the second cardinal from his predominantly Muslim homeland. Known for his commitment to interfaith dialogue, he was present at the historic 2019 signing of the human fraternity document by Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi. Coutts' life and ministry have been marked by efforts to promote peace and religious tolerance in a challenging context. Coutts speaks several languages including English, Italian, German, French, Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi. Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, England — born Aug. 22, 1945 Former master of the Dominican order, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe is known as a preacher and retreat leader. He taught Scripture and doctrine at Oxford University before leading the Order of Preachers for more than a decade. Radcliffe was recently called upon by Pope Francis to guide participants of the Synod on Synodality through retreats and spiritual meditations. His episcopal motto is 'Vos Autem Dixi Amicos,' meaning: 'I have called you friends' from John 15:15.--CNA
Sky News AU
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Cardinal Robert Sarah is an ‘intellectual heavyweight' of the next Papal conclave
Catholic News Network Vatican Correspondent Colm Flynn speculates on who the next pope may be, claiming Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah is one of the 'intellectual heavyweights' of the upcoming conclave. 'Someone like Cardinal Sarah from Africa is seen as someone who has great intellectual wattage – he is one of the intellectual heavyweights in the college of cardinals, I would say,' Mr Flynn said. 'People try and talk about the conservative, more traditional side of the Catholic Church, and they always fall back on the Americans, and they say 'oh the American conservatives', as if this is some kind of fringe group in the Church – that could not be further from the truth. 'In Africa, when you look into the future, in this upcoming conclave, they want to see those values, those family values … not only reflected in the Catholic Church, but they want to see it supported by the Catholic Church.'
