18 Africans Among 135 Cardinals Eligible to Elect Next Pope

By Mabeni Aboh

Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, the College of Cardinals has gathered at the Vatican to begin the process of electing a new pope. A total of 135 cardinals are eligible to participate in the conclave, including 18 Africans.

The African cardinal electors include Fridolin Besungu (DR Congo), Ignace Dogbo (Ivory Coast), Stephen Brislin (South Africa), Arlindo Furtado (Cape Verde), Antoine Kambanda (Rwanda), Jean-Pierre Kutwa (Ivory Coast), John Njue (Kenya), Dieudonne Nzapalainga (Central African Republic), Peter Okpaleke (Nigeria), Nakellentuba Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Protase Rugambwa (Tanzania), Robert Sarah (Guinea), Berhaneyesus Souraphiel (Ethiopia), Desire Tsarahazana (Madagascar), Peter Turkson (Ghana), Jean-Paul Vesco (Algeria), Cristobal Romero (Morocco), and Stephen Mulla (South-Sudan).

The cardinals will gather for a general congregation to discuss the Pope's funeral, scheduled for April 26, 2025, at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. The service will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

In the coming days, the cardinals will progress to pre-conclave preparatory meetings, leading up to the conclave itself. They will discuss various matters, including the present needs of the Church, the state of the Curia, and its work, and improving the Curia and the Church's relation to the world.

Before the conclave begins, the cardinals will swear an oath to maintain secrecy about all matters related to the election of the new pope. They will also refrain from all contact with the outside world during the election.

The voting process will involve secret ballots, with the cardinals selecting three fellow cardinals to count the votes, three others to check the counts, and three, if necessary, to collect ballots from those who are unable to walk to the high altar. A two-thirds majority will be required to elect the new pope.

Some of the leading candidates to succeed Pope Francis include Peter Erdo (Hungary), Matteo Zuppi (Italy), Robert Sarah (Guinea), Luis Tagle (Filipino), Malcolm Ranjith (Sri Lanka), and Pietro Parolin (Italy).

The conclave is expected to begin between May 6 and May 12, and the cardinals will be sequestered from the outside world until a new pope is elected. The outcome of the conclave will determine the future direction of the Catholic Church.