VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
Africa presents four credible names as ideal candidates to the papacy
Giacomo Galeazzi
Vatican City
The Ghanaian Turkson, the Guinean Sarah, the South African Napier, and the Congolese Monsengwo Pasinya. The African continent presents four credible names. However, in the conclave, Africa can count more on the quality of “papabili” candidates than on the quantity of voters (just 11 compared to 60 from Europe and 33 from the Americas). “Sarah’s profile is one that is ideal for the Papacy: it combines pastoral experience at home and internationally in the Curia”, says Father Bernardo Cervellera, Director of AsiaNews, the agency of the Pontifical Institute for foreign missions. Sarah has been Bishop in Africa, prisoner of war and now is head of the dicastery at the Vatican. He took the place of Etchegeray as “the man of the impossible papal missions” in the diplomatic and humanitarian fields from Lebanon to Southeast Asia. He is also held in high esteem by Obama and has chances as an “outsider”.
In short, a “black Wojtyla” who is able to unite foreigners, the Curia and the White House just as the spiritual father of Solidarnosc did in 1978. Two years ago, at the Rimini Meeting, he won everybody over with his communicative ability and charisma. Certain sectors of the ecclesiastical hierarchy have reservations about the “young” Church of the dark continent; it is feared that the Cardinals may be surrounded by ethnic clans and unclear situations.
Joseph Ratzinger didn’t think so when, as Cardinal in 2004, he told a German tv: “We are ready for a black Pope”. And during his travels, he defined Africa as the “spiritual lung of the world”. In short: a viable hypothesis. Moreover, the election of a black Pope wouldn’t be a unique event (at least according to tradition). In fact, Gelasius I, Pope from 492 to 496, was a “romanus natus” (roman citizen).
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