Africa comes to the conclave with 17 cardinal electors. There were 18, but one from Kenya will not be participating.
One of the more notable figures among the cardinals is Salesian Cristóbal López Romero. The Spaniard was appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Rabat, in Morocco. There, he carries out his mission among Muslims and migrants trying to reach the European border.
Further south, in the Central African Republic, Cardinal Nzapalainga stands out—a cardinal seasoned in inter-religious dialogue and dedicated to serving those in need.
Cardinal Souraphiel, from Ethiopia, knows what it means to be imprisoned for being a Christian. He is the second cardinal in his country’s history and lives in one of the world’s most crisis-stricken regions: the Horn of Africa.
Fridolin Ambongo, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, stood out for his handling of the controversial Fiducia Supplicans, which allowed the blessing of same-sex couples. As president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa, he stated that he did not find it appropriate to implement the teaching on the continent. However, before making this decision public, he informed the pope of his choice—a gesture he was not required to make, since the document itself left its application up to each individual bishop.
Finally, there are the African cardinals from the Curia. Peter Turkson, from Ghana, is one of the historic figures. There is also Robert Sarah, who turns 80 in June, making him an elector, and Protase Rugambwa, from Tanzania, is also among them.
JRB
Trans. CRT
