Following the passing of Pope Francis, 135 cardinals worldwide are eligible to participate in the upcoming conclave to select his successor. Among them are 18 African cardinals, including Nigeria’s Cardinal Peter Okpaleke.
Out of the global total of 252 cardinals, only 135 hold voting rights. Europe leads with 53 voting cardinals, followed by Asia (23), Africa (18), South America (17), and North America (16). Central America and Oceania have the fewest with four each.
The African contingent includes prominent figures such as John Njue (Kenya), Dieudonne Nzapalainga (Central African Republic), Nakellentuba Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Protase Rugambwa (Tanzania), Robert Sarah (Guinea), and Berhaneyesus Souraphiel (Ethiopia). Others are Desire Tsarahazana (Madagascar), Peter Turkson (Ghana), Jean-Paul Vesco (Algeria), Cristobal Romero (Morocco), Stephen Mulla (South Sudan), Fridolin Besungu (DR Congo), Ignace Dogbo and Jean-Pierre Kutwa (Ivory Coast), Stephen Brislin (South Africa), Arlindo Furtado (Cape Verde), and Antoine Kambanda (Rwanda).
Of the eligible electors, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis, 22 by Pope Benedict XVI, and five by Pope John Paul II.
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, after suffering a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
The Vatican confirmed his death at 7:35 am local time, using electrocardiographic thanatography to officially record the moment.
