# Following Pope Francis’s death, African cardinals are emerging as strong contenders for the papacy. Reuters reports that Ghana’s Peter Turkson, known for his advocacy on social justice and climate issues, and Congo’s Fridolin Besungu, recognized for promoting peace in conflict zones, are among the leading candidates. Their prominence reflects Africa’s growing influence in the Catholic Church, which now counts over 176 million Africans. While some Vatican insiders remain skeptical about the election of a black pope, many see this as an opportunity to amplify Africa’s voice in global Catholicism.
African cardinals emerge as leading contenders to succeed Pope Francis