Can the next Pope come from Africa?

A leading archbishop from Ghana tells Reuters a black African pope to succeed Pope Benedict would be “quite some miracle.” He says negative perceptions within the Catholic hierarchy will have to be overcome first. Catholics in the African continent has risen from 55 million to more than 145 million in last 30 years. Cardinals Peter Turkson of Ghania and Laurent Mosengwois of Congo are mentioned as candidates. Turkson is the head of the Vatican justice and peace bureau. There are no open campaigns or declared candidates for the post and cardinals are forbidden by Church law from revealing who they voted for. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi announced that cardinal electors will meet in mid-March to choose Benedict’s successor. “The beginning of the conclave cannot be before March 15.”

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