When Pope Francis provided a mass that was included Elements of Congolese tradition In the Basilica of St. Peter in 2019 it was seen as a sign of his lasting dedication to Roman Catholics throughout Africa.
When he visited African migrants in South Italia and later kissed the feet of the two competing warlords of South Sudan, his actions paid more attention to his focus on a continent where the number of Catholics is growing faster than anywhere in the world.
“When he was from Latin America, he felt for our perilous actions as a third world continent struggling in a world that is controlled from far,” said Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, who voted in the conclusion of 2013 that Francis chose.
Such as Cardinal Onaiyekan and his colleagues are preparing to meet each other in the Sistine Chapel next week to elect The new pope afterwards Francis’ DeathThe question of how the emerging Catholic population of Africa can form the following papacy and the future of the church has become more time than ever.
About one fifth of the African population, around 280 million people, are Catholic. Almost a fifth of all Catholics are Africans, and that balance is changing: according to the Vatican, more than half of the 13 million people who came to the church in 2022 Were in Africa.
Africa produces the highest number of seminarists in the world. Of the 135 cardinals who will call the next pope, 18 Coming from Africa.
The estate of Francis in Africa is mixed, whereby some credit him to adjust ecclesiastical teachings to African customs and others who say that his messages sometimes had no contact with the various and strong beliefs that animate many African societies.
On gay marriage And divorce, the blessing of Francis of couples of the same sex confronted with a strong reprimand of African bishops and many Catholics in countries where homosexuality remains criminalized, stigmatized or taboo. The resistance of African bishops emphasized their growing influence within the church, say observers.
“Pope Franciscus had a certain solidarity with Africa, and I think his teachings about social issues were appreciated,” said Father Giulio Albanese, an Italian missionary who worked in Uganda in the 1980s and accompanied Francis on two trips to Africa. “But sometimes the openness of people is not accepted by the bishops.”
Francis Visited 10 African countries over Five Travel During his 12-year-old papacy, while his predecessor visited the continent twice.
Amidst Francis’ potential successors From Africa, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the 65-year-old Archbishop of Kinshasa, who made Francis a cardinal in 2019, who was a member of his Cardinals Council and who led the opposition The statement of the Vatican can bless the church homosexual couples.
That opposition has essentially forced Francis to have African bishops ignore the policy.
Other African contenders are Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, who was a candidate in the 2013 conclave and were viewed with Francis’s about climate change, social justice and homosexuality.
On the other side of the spectrum, Cardinal Robert Sarah from Guinee, who was a prominent opponent of Francis and his attempts to modernize the church.
The election of an African pope would most likely herald an era of conservatism, in accordance with the traditional views of many African Catholics.
However, African Catholics said that Francis had on many subjects preached values Close to their hearts, including a more respectful relationship with nature, inter -religious dialogue with Islam and the importance of recording local traditions in someone’s faith.
Even on homosexuality, many said that Francis’s approach was one of the subtlety that resonated in Africa and made the church’s doctrine more attractive on a continent with The largest share of young people in the world.
“The attitude of Pope Francis on homosexuals was one of the two traditional Catholic doctrine, while also arguing for greater inclusiveness and respect,” said Brian Mboh, 28, who is a Catholic and a communication professional from Cameroon, where homosexuality is criminalized.
During a private audience with the Pope in 2023, Sheila Leocádia Pires, a communication officer for the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said that they raised the issue of single mothers who were robbed of the Eucharist in Africa. “Everyone is welcome,” was his answer, said Mrs. Pires.
Despite all the attention of Francis against Africa, Catholics noticed that his influence and calling for peace yielded few results.
The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo I entered a new fatal phase this year. African migrants are still confronted with deadly obstacles in the dangerous journey to Europe. The two competing leaders of South Sudan are Threaten a new war.
“They forgot how he knelt and kissed their feet because they are back to each other’s throws,” said Cardinal Onaiyekan.
Others said that the care and attention that Francis gave to Africa would be what they remembered the most about him.
“Our country was at war, but he still came here to share our suffering,” said Eugenie Ndumba, a parish teacher in Congo, Die Francis Visited in 2023.
“He knew where his children were and he made sure he went to them.”
Reporting was contributed by Neil Macfarquhar Van Rome; Jack Buunda from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; Eugene NDI NDI of Yaounde, Cameroon; Zimasa Matiwane van Johannesburg; and Pius Adeleye from Eket, Nigeria.