A Strong Pastoral Reason Why Africa Should Produce The Next Pope: An Open Letter To The Cardinal Electors

The Vatican says that Pope Francis is in critical condition right now, according to a wide range of sources. And, as reported by Politico last week, even the Pope himself has confided to his close aides that he is not expecting to come out of the hospital alife.

Francis is now 88 and has been working in the Lord's Vineyard for over 55 years, after getting ordained in December 1969. He has also been a bishop for at least 32 years. So, it's no bad news even if he dies this time because he needs to rest. As Politico also reported, the Pope “has been suffering from intense pain”.

Thus, it makes sense for us to start getting ready for the next conclave. In this sense, I advocate that the next Pope should come from the African continent. See why 👇👇👇

According to the document, Status of Global Christianity 2024 In The Context Of 1990 - 2050 (issued by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity in Gordon-Cornwell Theological Seminary), there were approximately 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of mid-2024. This number has been steadily increasing, with a projected growth of 146% in Africa, 63% in Asia, 42% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 38% in North America between 2004 and 2050.

Thus, although Africa has the 3rd largest share of the global Catholic population, the continent is light years ahead of other continents in terms of church growth in the last two decades. What this likely means is that the Catholic bishops in Africa have been better pastors than those in other continents in recent times. As a result, it makes sense for one of them to be chosen to pastor the global Catholic Church so that he can help to replicate the church growth magic in Africa at the global level.

Choosing the successor to Pope Francis from any other continent outside Africa would send the message that the global Catholic Church does not appreciate the good works of the African church which is the reason the continent is currently doing so well in terms of church growth. 

Or, doesn't the universal Catholic Church want the exponential growth of the African Catholic Church to be replicated globally? Choosing the successor of Francis from outside Africa would mean a silent nod to this question. No one would expect this from a Church that has a mandate from her Lord to make disciples of "all peoples everywhere" (Matthew 28:19 GNT).

Here's a breakdown of the Catholic population distribution across continents according to the document in review:

• Latin America and the Caribbean: 34.9% of the population, with approximately 454 million Catholics 

• Europe: 20.8% of the population, with around 270 million Catholics.

• Africa: 10.7% of the population, with about 139 million Catholics.

• Asia: 9.8% of the population, with approximately 127 million Catholics.

• North America: 6.3% of the population, with around 82 million Catholics.

• Oceania: Not specified.

Also, as you can see, among the top 3 continents with the highest Catholic population, only Africa has not produced a pope in the last 1,500 years!

By my research, the last time a Pope came from Africa was in 496 AD. Also, although the Catholic Church in Africa has been performing so well relative to other continents, there have been only three African popes in the history of the Catholic Church: Pope Victor I (reigned from 189-199), Pope Miltiades (reigned from 311-314), and Pope Gelasius I (reigned from 492-496).

By my research also, there are currently 16 active African cardinals who are eligible to elect a pope or be chosen as one themselves. So, why can't one of them make it this time?

If Africa could produce a pope in the Mediaeval era, why not now that the principle of egalitarianism - which is borrowed from the Christian doctrine of charity - is more entrenched? The church should beware lest the world turns back to preach fairness to her.

Written by Desmond Chinedu Nweke