As the Catholic Church prepares for a historic transition following the death of Pope Francis, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), has joined the growing calls for the next pope to come from Africa.
In a statement on Tuesday, the prominent Delta State monarch emphasized the need for inclusivity and representation in the Church’s leadership.
“The time is ripe for Africa to produce the Pope,” he declared, noting that the continent has never had a representative ascend to the papacy in the Church’s nearly 2,000-year history.
The monarch highlighted a list of potential African candidates including Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Besungu, he pointed out, is a current member of the late Pope Francis’s Council of Cardinals and President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
The cardinal had earlier, in January 2024, signed a letter opposing the Vatican’s controversial allowance for priests to perform non-liturgical blessings of same-sex unions.
The Asagba, a Knight of Saint John (KSJ) and Knight of Saint Gregory the Great (KSG), argued that Africa has become “the bedrock of Catholicism and by extension Christianity the world over” and that this growing significance must now be reflected at the highest levels of Church leadership.
He said, “The late Pope Francis championed inclusivity in the Church and the time has come to practicalise it by giving Africa a chance.”
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the papal conclave, which will begin between 15 and 20 days after Pope Francis’s passing.
Cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pontiff.
Among the top candidates are Jean-Marc Aveline (France), Peter Erdo (Hungary), Pietro Parolin and Matteo Zuppi (Italy), Marc Ouellet (Canada), Luis Tagle (Philippines), Mario Grech (Malta), and Joseph Tobin (United States), alongside the African contenders.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pope.
As tradition dictates, black smoke from the Sistine Chapel signals a failed vote, while white smoke announces the election of a new pontiff.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died at age 88 on Easter Monday.
He was elected in 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI, making history as the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to hold the office.
