MATTERS ARISING: Could Besungu or Turkson make history as first African pope in 1,500 years?

As the world mourns Pope Francis, the race to choose his successor begins behind closed doors.

News of the pontiff’s death has cast a shadow over Rome and plunged 1.4 billion Catholics into nine days of mourning. While masses echo across continents and preparations for his burial move forward, a more discreet drama unfolds within the Vatican’s marble halls.

In whispers and quiet meetings, cardinals from around the globe begin the delicate, often political task of selecting the next spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.

Two of the candidates are of African origin: Cardinal Fridolin Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana. Could any of these African cardinals be the anointed candidate?

The last African popes — Victor I, Miltiades, and Gelasius I — served in the early centuries of Christianity, with the most recent, Gelasius I, reigning in the late 5th century. Since then, there has not been a pope of African origin.

BESUNGU

Aged 65, Besungu is the youngest African cardinal and has served as Archbishop of Kinshasa. Besungu represents the growing church of Africa and could appeal to a cross-section of cardinals in a conclave. He is also a member of the Capuchin Franciscan religious order – an order of friars which follows the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint whom Pope Francis took a name after.

Besungu has been a strong defender of democracy and human rights. He repeatedly criticised the repeated attempts of then-Congolese President Joseph Kabila to push back elections from 2016 to 2018, and later led a mission of bishops to Lusaka, Zambia, to meet with President Edgar Lungu. He urged Lungu to advocate for peaceful elections in the DRC. Besungu has also criticised the exploitation of natural resources and believes that renewables will help alleviate the impact of climate change in the world.

Last year, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi announced an investigation that could lead to Besungu being charged with sedition for his sharp public criticism of the failures of the state to address chronic security challenges and injustices, especially in Congo’s contested eastern region.

The Vatican has yet to react publicly to the news. Should charges against Ambongo be filed, it could dampen his chances of being the next African pope.

TURKSON

Turkson has had a decorative episcopal career. Hailing from Ghana, he is another candidate who could make history as the first African pope in modern times. The cardinal has served as chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences since 2022. He was president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, focusing on social justice, climate, and migration from 2009 to 2017, and the inaugural prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development from 2017 to 2021.

Pope John Paul II made the former Archbishop of Cape Coast a cardinal in 2003. Since then, Turkson has been widely regarded as papabile, a candidate for election to the papacy. In 2013, he was described as “one of Africa’s most energetic church leaders” — a description that was not far-fetched given his stint as a guitarist in a funk band.

The 76-year-old studied in Ghana and Rome, earning a doctorate in sacred scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He is known for his advocacy on global poverty and environmental issues, and he played a key role in shaping Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’ on the environment.

Turkson speaks English, Fante, French, Italian, German, and Hebrew, in addition to understanding Latin and Greek.

Here are the other candidates.

1. LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE (PHILIPPINES)

• Age: 67
• Background: Ordained in 1982, Tagle served as Bishop of Imus and later Archbishop of Manila. He was made cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. He leads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation, focusing on missionary work.
• Pedigree: Known as the “Asian Francis”, Tagle is a prominent advocate for social justice and inclusion, continuing Pope Francis’s progressive vision. He has also led Caritas Internationalis, a global Catholic charity network.
• Interesting fact: If elected, he would be the first Asian pope.

2. PIETRO PAROLIN (ITALY)

• Age: 70
• Background: A seasoned Vatican diplomat, Parolin has served as Vatican secretary of state since 2013, effectively the pope’s chief advisor and head of the Roman Curia. He has a background in diplomacy, including postings as nuncio to Venezuela and work on Vatican-China relations.
• Pedigree: Known for his moderate stance, Parolin is seen as a compromise candidate between progressives and conservatives. He is fluent in multiple languages and has extensive experience in international affairs.
• Interesting fact: He could restore an Italian papacy after 40 years, but the papal election remains unpredictable.

3. PETER ERDO (HUNGARY)

• Age: 72
• Background: Erdő is a canon law scholar and has been the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest since 2002. He was made cardinal in 2003 and is known for his conservative theological stance.
• Pedigree: A leading conservative figure, Erdő has championed traditional Catholic teachings and ecumenical outreach to Orthodox Christians.
• Interesting fact: He was the youngest cardinal at the time of his appointment and is seen as a candidate who could steer the church back toward conservatism.

4. ANGELO SCOLA (ITALY)

• Age: 82
• Background: Scola is a long-time papal contender and former Archbishop of Milan. He has a reputation as a traditionalist with a strong theological background.
• Pedigree: He was a favourite in the 2013 conclave but lost to Francis. His age may be a limiting factor this time.
• Interesting Fact: Despite being older, Scola’s traditionalist views appeal to those favouring a more centralised church.

5. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA (ITALY)

• Age: 60
• Background: Newly made cardinal in 2023, Pizzaballa is the Vatican’s leading official on Middle Eastern affairs, having spent much of his career in Jerusalem.
• Pedigree: Known for his diplomatic and pastoral experience in volatile regions, he is seen as an international figure somewhat removed from Vatican politics.
• Interesting fact: Pizzaballa could also restore the Italian papacy, but his age could be a limiting factor. Older candidates are often favoured in preference of a shorter administration.

6. MATTEO MARIA ZUPPI (ITALY)

• Age: 69
• Background: Archbishop of Bologna since 2015 and cardinal since 2019, Zuppi is associated with the Sant’Egidio community, known for humanitarian and conflict resolution work.
• Pedigree: Seen as a progressive candidate aligned with Francis’s focus on the poor and migrants.
• Interesting fact: He has openly supported pastoral outreach to LGBTQ+ individuals and was appointed as a special envoy for Ukraine.

7. GÉRALD LACROIX (CANADA)

• Age: 67
• Background: Lacroix’s focus on a missionary church is likely to be seen favourably in a papal election. Francis chose him as a member of the council of cardinals, the body that advises the pope on crucial matters.
• Pedigree: Serving as Archbishop of Quebec, Lacroix is considered an accomplished leader and pastorally sensitive, with experience guiding a local church in a country with high rates of secularisation.
• Interesting fact: Lacroix faced an allegation of sexual abuse in the 1980s by an unnamed female who was 17 at the time, but the cardinal strongly denied the claim. A retired judge, commissioned by the Vatican to investigate the allegations, later found no evidence of sexual misconduct. The allegation could damage Lacroix’s candidacy, but the judge’s finding might also be viewed as Lacroix having already been vetted.