The Catholic Church, with its 1.3 billion followers spread across continents, is once again at a historical crossroads. With the passing of Pope Francis, the question on many lips is whether the time has finally come for the election of a Pope from Africa, a continent where the faith is not only thriving but rapidly expanding. Two African cardinals, Peter Turkson of Ghana and Fridolin Ambongo Besungo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are emerging as notable contenders. Yet beneath the excitement lies a deep-seated skepticism, especially among Africans themselves: Will the Vatican ever hand over the keys of St. Peter to a son of the African soil?
The sentiments of those clamoring for a “Black Pope” are far from misplaced. Catholicism, by doctrine, transcends borders, race, and ethnicity. But institutions, especially ancient ones like the Vatican, are not just shaped by theology, they are shaped by tradition, history, and often, unspoken bias.
A Faith That Grows, A Leadership That Lags
Africa is arguably the beating heart of modern Catholicism. Home to some of the fastest-growing dioceses, overflowing seminaries, and fervent congregations, the continent has become vital to the Church’s survival in a rapidly secularizing West. In the Congo alone, Cardinal Besungo leads over seven million Catholics in Kinshasa, a microcosm of the faith’s African renaissance. Cardinal Turkson, on the other hand, has held prestigious roles within the Vatican itself, from peace envoy to South Sudan to President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
And yet, despite their qualifications and the continent’s spiritual vibrance, an African Pope remains an elusive dream. Many Africans quietly believe that the Church, while happy to embrace African faith and numbers, still withholds its top leadership circle, guarded by centuries of European tradition.
The Vatican’s Deep Roots and Reluctance
Some argue this reluctance isn’t necessarily racism, but protectionism, a deep-rooted desire to preserve the Western cultural core that has historically defined Catholicism. The same way Africans might be wary of a non-African becoming the torchbearer of African Traditional Religion, many within the Church still see Rome’s highest office as best suited for someone immersed in its European liturgical, intellectual, and diplomatic tradition.
But that tradition is shifting. The last two Popes, Benedict XVI from Germany and Francis from Argentina , have shown the Church’s willingness to look beyond Italy. However, beyond Europe entirely is a leap the Vatican has not yet taken.
More Than Symbolism
It’s important to ask: Are African cardinals like Turkson and Besungo considered serious contenders, or are they simply symbolic figures used to demonstrate global inclusivity without ever being truly in line for the top job?
Turkson, for instance, is widely respected for his moderate approach, especially on issues like homosexuality. He has called out the harshness of anti-gay laws in Africa, yet maintains that African voices must be part of the global conversation. Besungo, a more theologically conservative figure, has led one of the continent’s most complex dioceses with strength and clarity. Both are men of deep faith, diplomacy, and vision, qualities any Pope needs.
So why do some in the Church still hesitate?
Shifting Power, Unchanging Perception
The real question may not be whether Africa is ready for a Pope, but whether the world is ready. A Pope from Africa would not just change the complexion of Church leadership; it would redefine centuries of spiritual geography. It would be a bold declaration that Catholicism’s future lies in the Global South, not just in its numbers, but in its leadership, theology, and vision.
But for that shift to occur, Africa must not only produce strong cardinals, it must also continue to project its own values and worldview to the global Catholic table. It must not only grow in faith, but also in influence, scholarship, diplomacy, and self-confidence on the world stage.
As we wait for the College of Cardinals to gather under Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, one thing is clear: the smoke that rises from that chimney won’t just tell us who leads the Church, it will tell us whether the Church is truly ready to reflect the world it claims to serve.
