At the top is on bookmakers: will Cardinal Turkson become the first Pope from Africa in 1500 years?
On the day of the death of Pope Francis, April 21, the chances of the Italian Cardinal Pietra Parolina have reached the highest percentage so far to be chosen by a holy father of 42 percent, according to the bookmaker’s houses. Filipinac Luis Antonio Tagle was held at 36 percent, the Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi had 6.8, and Ganski Peter Turkson was 6.5 percent. The odds, however, have changed since then, and Turkson’s chances have grown the most, Newsweek writes.
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Revolution in the Vatican: Will Cardinal Turkson become the first Pope from Africa in 1500 years?
This week Peter Turkson, 77, who could become the first African Pope in 1500 years, jumped from fourth to the second place of favorites, and now the third, with him and the Filipinac almost equal. Vatican Secretary of State Parolin is still leading, but with 26 percent chance, followed by Tagle (21 percent), Turkson (19 percent) and Zuppi (13 percent). African cardinals now make up 12 percent of the Cardinal menu, compared to eight percent during the previous conclave. Africa, however, is still « subjugated » because there are 20 percent of 1.4 billion Catholics in the world.
Cardinal Peter Turkson is known in the circles of the Church as a man who advocates for social justice. As a former manager of a dicaster for promoting comprehensive human development, Turkson has loudly pleaded with issues such as climate change, poverty and economic justice. Turkson’s choice would mark the historic moment as the first African pope in the last millennium and a half. The last African pope was Pope Gelazija, who served from 492 to 496. Born in Rome from African parents, Gelazia was known for extensive theological writings and a strong dedication to charity and justice for the poor.
The Cardinal of Ghana Ethnically belongs to the people of Fante and was born in Wassa Nsuti in the Western Gani from the mother of methodistic Protestant and father Roman Catholics. The fourth is of ten children. His mother was selling vegetables in the open market, while his father worked as a carpenter. He was one of the favorites on the conclaves when Benedict XVI and Pope Francis were elected. But Turkson was aware that he would not win, he said back in 2010 that neither he, nor the Catholic Church, were probably not ready to become the pope. He speaks German, French, Italian and English, and is known for his intellectual depth and wide views, which very often brought him into conflict with the Catholic clergy and in his gani.
He had to apologize for showing YouTube video at the Synod of Bishop 2012, which presents alarming forecasts about the growth of Islam in Europe. He defended, however, the true LGBT community in Gani when they wanted to criminalize them, saying that « it cannot be because these people did not commit any crime. » He is much more liberal than, for example, the Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, who compared homosexuality and abortion and compared « Islamic fanaticism » to Nazi ideology. Or Fridolin Ambonga from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who also opposed the blessing of same -sex communities.
It is the Cardinal Ambongo (65), the Archbishop of Kinshase, and the prominent advocate of peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is increasingly mentioned as a potential candidate for papacy, especially for years. After being ordained a priest in 1988, he received his PhD in moral theology at the Alfonsian Academy in Rome. Since 2004 he has served various Episcopal services, and in 2018 he was appointed Archbishop Kinshase. The same year he became an archbishop, Pope Francis appointed him a cardinal. His sharp criticism of corruption and colonial heritage strengthened his position as a possible heir to St. Peter.
But Vatican analysts still believe that Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana is a stronger African pretender.
