Cardinal Turkson as Pope would make me very happy but God’s choice matters most – Father Quaicoe on an African successor to Francis
According to Father Michael Quaicoe, the National Catholic Secretariat’s liaison to Parliament, while the election of an African as Pope would be significant, the ultimate consideration should be fidelity to God’s mission for the global Roman Catholic Church
As the world speculates over who might succeed Pope Francis, Cardinal Turkson of Ghana has emerged as a front-running contender.
Weighing in on the growing conversation, Father Michael Quaicoe, the director for governance, justice and peace with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and National Catholic Secretariat liaison to Parliament, emphasised that while the election of an African as pope would be significant, the ultimate consideration should be fidelity to God’s mission for the Roman Catholic Church.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (22 April), Father Quaicoe said, “Yes, of course, the Church in Africa and Asia is growing, so it shouldn’t be overlooked.
“But the most important variable [in the choice of a new pope] should be the man who understands this vision of God for the Church and for humanity and is willing to be docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”
“God’s plan”
He acknowledged his admiration for Cardinal Turkson, calling him “a man of such gravitas” and a “very good candidate” for the papacy.
However, Father Quaicoe insisted that personal and regional preferences must give way to divine selection when the College of Cardinals meets to decide who the new pope should be.
“If that person is from Ghana or from Africa, it would make me happier,” he said, “but it isn’t, for me, the most important variable in this conversation.”
The current College of Cardinals has 135 members, 108 of whom were chosen by Pope Francis, 22 by his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, and five by the previous pope, John Paul II.
Father Quaicoe stressed that ultimately the conclave of cardinals, though largely shaped by appointments made by Francis, would act under spiritual guidance rather than worldly politics.
“The most important variable, as I’ll repeat, is God’s plan and design rather than what one would want or desire,” he said.
Father Quaicoe also highlighted the seriousness of the decision-making process, noting that cardinals cast their vote in the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelo’s depiction of the Last Judgement – a stark reminder of the spiritual weight of their choice.
While Africa has strong candidates such as Cardinal Turkson and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Father Quaicoe urged Catholics to focus their prayers on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Yes, Africa has candidates and we pray for them. But we also pray that, notwithstanding, the [pope] we will have – wherever he will come from – will be the one who is indeed chosen by God for his Church and for the world.”
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