The death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025 has left the Catholic Church not only mourning a beloved leader but also searching for his successor — a choice that could reshape the future of the global faith.
Among the names gaining attention is Ghana’s own Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, a seasoned Vatican figure and respected voice from Africa. At 76, he stands as one of the frontrunners to become the next Pope, a possibility that would mark a historic first: the election of a Black Pope.
The former Archbishop of Cape Coast is seen by many as a serious contender to lead the world’s 1.5 billion Catholics. If chosen, he would become the first Black Pope in the Church’s two-thousand-year history — a milestone moment not only for Ghana but for the entire Global South.
The election of a Pope — carried out through the secretive Conclave of Cardinals — has always been unpredictable. Yet, Cardinal Turkson’s name keeps surfacing in conversations, as the Church grapples with how to stay relevant in a fast-changing world, facing debates over LGBTQ+ inclusion, the role of women, climate change and the faith’s expansion outside Europe.
From Ghana to the Vatican
From a small town in Nsuta-Wassa in Ghana’s Western Region, Peter Turkson grew up in a modest Catholic family. After studying in both Ghana and Rome, he rose steadily through the Church’s ranks, serving as the Archbishop of Cape Coast and eventually becoming a Cardinal after his appointment by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
He is a graduate of St Teresa’s Minor Seminary, Amisano and St Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu and holds a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Arts in Divinity from the St Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary, Rensselaer, New York.
Ordained in 1975, Cardinal Turkson has held high offices at the Vatican including the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences (2021-2022), Prefect of the Dicastery of the Promotion of Integral Human Development (2017-2021) and President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace (2009-2017).
Cardinal Turkson was also the Vice Rector of the St Peter’s Seminary in 1981, Archbishop of Cape Coast between 1992-2009, and president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference between 1997 and 2005.
His work in the Vatican has been broad and influential. Under Pope Francis, he served as the head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development — an office dealing with migration, justice, peace and care for creation. His reputation as a thoughtful, diplomatic figure has made him respected both within Africa and internationally.
Cardinal Turkson is often described as a bridge-builder — someone able to straddle the traditional teachings of the Church while acknowledging the realities of a changing world.
On sensitive issues like LGBTQ+ rights, Turkson has called for compassion and opposed harsh criminalization, particularly in African countries where anti-LGBTQ+ laws are widespread. At the same time, he has urged the global Church to respect the cultural and social contexts of African societies.
“We are not in favor of criminalization,” he once said in an interview, emphasizing that while the Church must protect human dignity, it must also understand the cultural frameworks of its diverse followers.
Though he attracted criticism in 2013 for suggesting that Africa’s cultural values shield its churches from certain scandals, many believe his comments reflected a desire to defend African traditions, not to excuse misconduct.
For centuries, Europe has been the center of Catholic power. But today, Catholicism is booming in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while declining in Europe. Many argue it is time for a pope who truly represents the face of the Church’s future.
If Cardinal Turkson is elected, it would send a strong signal that the Vatican recognizes its changing membership — and that leadership can come from anywhere faith is alive and growing.
Meanwhile, other contenders, such as Italy’s Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Philippines’ Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, are also highly regarded. But Turkson’s deep roots in Africa and long service in Rome make him a strong symbol of unity between tradition and transformation.
Support for Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson’s potential elevation to the Papacy is steadily growing both within Ghana and beyond.
President John Dramani Mahama has thrown his support behind Cardinal Turkson, describing him as someone who would make “a good Pope.”
In a tribute written in the book of condolence for the late Pope Francis, Mahama prayed that the conclave would be guided by God to select a worthy successor, adding warmly, “I know one who will make a good pope – our own ‘AT’.”
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, has also voiced confidence in Cardinal Turkson’s readiness for the role, citing his extensive experience in high-profile Vatican positions and his suitable age.
“If his brother Cardinals think he is the right person, they will be ready to support him, and we will back him with our prayers,” he told TV3, while emphasizing that the final decision rests with the Holy Spirit.
As Catholics await the white smoke that signals a new Pope’s election after Conclave has reached a decision, Ghanaians are watching with pride and hope.
For many, Cardinal Turkson’s candidacy is not just about national pride. It’s about seeing a Church that embraces all its members, from every corner of the world.
And should the choice fall on Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, it would mark not just the beginning of a new papacy, but the beginning of a new era.
