Paul Juma Makhandia

Cardinal Bishop Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago in the United States of America has been elected by the Papal conclave as the new Pope, and Bishop of Rome following the death of Pope Francis on April 21th. The Pontiff who has chosen the name Leo XIV was revealed to the world after two tough days of an intense deliberation in the Sistine Chapel making the 267^thPope.

However, the Kenya’s Cardinal John Njue was not part of the historic conclave which has attracted lots of reactions and questions among the public on the African representation. Reports from other sources reveal that the cardinal claims that he was not informed or even rather invited. This has caused even further questions and confusion in the internal communication of the Church.

In 2013, Cardinal Njue took an active role in the election of Pope Francis. The cardinal who is now 79 years, is the Archbishop Emeritus of Nairobi and was still very much eligible to vote but due to health issues was not able to travel to Rome. This contradicts with the misinformation of the “formal invitation” locking out the Kenya’s voice in the election of Pope Leo XIV.

The 2025 conclave was a unique one with a record of 133 cardinal electors breaking the traditional maximum of 120. In this year’s conclave, Africa had a representation of 17 cardinals which is a clear manifestation of faith and a positive influence of Catholicism in the world.

Among the prominent cardinals who represented Africa are: Cardinal Robert Sarah (79), Guinea- Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Cardinal Peter Turkson (76), Ghana- Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (64), Democratic Republic of Congo- Archbishop of Kinshasa and member of the Council of Cardinals also famous on peace and human rights.

The conclave kick-off on May 7^th. and at 21:00Pm the day was concluded by rising of black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney an indicator that the decision had not been reached yet. The following day at 7:00Pm the white smoke filled the skies of St. Peter’s square an indication of a new Pope in the world and that a two-thirds majority (89 votes) had been attained and the elected Pope accepted.

Pope Leo XIV’s election as the successor of Peter and the leader of the Church in the world comes at a very crucial moment where the Church is facing a lot of challenges across the globe like secularism and climatic changes.