AS the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new leader next week, a wave of hope is sweeping through Ghana, where many believe the next pope could emerge from their midst. Cardinal Peter Turkson, a respected figure in the Church and son of a carpenter and vegetable seller, will join the Conclave at the Vatican on May 7 — and his countrymen are watching with pride and anticipation.
Faith remains a central pillar of Ghanaian society, particularly in the capital, Accra, where religious slogans such as ‘To God be the Glory’ are boldly displayed on towering office blocks. This resurgence of belief stands in contrast to secular trends in much of the Western world. According to the Vatican, Africa is home to the fastest-growing Roman Catholic population — yet it has never produced a pope.
Now, that could change.
UK’s ITV News reports from Ghana, where excitement is mounting over the possibility that Cardinal Turkson could become the first African Pope in the modern era.
From Cape Coast to the Vatican
Turkson, described as ‘mischievous’ in his youth, was raised in a shanty town before rising through the ranks of the Church. His journey began at a seminary in Cape Coast — a town once infamous as a departure point for enslaved Africans, now transformed into a vibrant fishing hub. Here, his legacy lives on among aspiring priests.
‘He brought this place to life,’ said Father Robert Snyper, a lecturer at St Peter’s Seminary, where Turkson once taught. ‘Whether as a lecturer, or a bishop or a cardinal, it was always his teaching.’
Asked where a future Pope Turkson might steer the Church, Snyper said: ‘I think he would want to carry on the work of Pope Francis. He would make it a church for the marginalised and a church for the poor.’
A symbol for Africa and the poor
There are currently 262 young men training to be priests at the Cape Coast seminary. Among them is Rev Michael Owusu-Amponsah, who sees the potential election of Turkson as monumental.
‘A black pope — it’s huge,’ he told ITV News. ‘He could have sat right here. It is historic. It will make Ghana proud, and it will make this institution very, very proud.’
The sentiment resonates beyond religious circles. Cape Coast YouTuber Ekow Simpson, though not a churchgoer, recognises the national significance.
‘If Pope Turkson becomes the next pope, I’m even calling him pope already,’ he said. ‘It’s an opportunity to change the narrative about Ghana and Africa.’
A progressive or a conservative?
Though Cardinal Turkson is seen by some as a progressive — particularly for his advocacy for the disadvantaged — Ghanaian Catholics tend to be deeply conservative. Issues such as same-sex relationships remain contentious.
Asked whether Turkson might follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis on such matters, Fr Snyper referenced a biblical story: ‘Nobody was able to throw the stone at the woman caught in adultery.’ On Pope Francis’ famous remark ‘Who am I to judge?’, he added: ‘I think he will continue from that line, yes.’
Still, Ghana’s Catholic faithful appear united in their desire to see one of their own rise to the pinnacle of the Church.
The Conclave will begin on Wednesday, May 7. Until the white smoke billows from the Sistine Chapel, hope in Ghana burns brightly.
Credit: Africabriefing
