African Might In The Conclave: The 18 Cardinals Tipped To Elect The Next Pope Revealed!

As the Catholic Church prepares for the election of a new Pope following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, 18 African cardinals are among the 135 eligible voters who will participate in the upcoming conclave.

Of the total 252 cardinals, only 135 have the right to vote in the conclave. Europe has the largest representation, with 53 electors, followed by Asia with 23, and Africa contributing 18 electors. South America has 17 electors, while North America has 16. Oceania and Central America have the smallest representation, each with just four electors.

The African cardinals eligible to vote 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 conclave will begin with days of ceremonies and discussions about the future direction of the Church and the state of the Curia. Following these discussions, the cardinals will cast their votes in a secret ballot. To elect the new Pope, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority. The proceedings are conducted in complete secrecy, with all cardinals taking an oath to maintain confidentiality and avoid contact with the outside world.

The election process itself involves multiple rounds of voting, usually taking several days, as cardinals work toward a consensus. The first vote is largely ceremonial, and subsequent rounds are held to narrow down the list of candidates and ultimately choose the next leader of the Catholic Church. If no decision is reached, the ballots are burned, producing black smoke. If a new Pope is elected, the smoke turns white, signaling the election of a new successor to Peter.