Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana has emerged as one of the leading contenders to succeed Pope Francis, following the pontiff’s death on Easter Monday, April 21. Pope Francis, 88, reportedly passed away from complications related to a stroke and heart failure, leaving the Roman Catholic Church at a crossroads.
Turkson, 76, is one of five high-profile candidates being considered for the papacy. Other contenders include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Italians Pietro Parolin and Angelo Scola, and Péter Erdő of Hungary.

Born on October 11, 1948, in Nsuta-Wassaw in Ghana’s Western Region, Cardinal Turkson has built a distinguished ecclesiastical career spanning decades. He began his journey toward priesthood at age 14, studying in local seminaries before moving on to advanced theological studies in the United States and Italy. He was ordained in 1975 and went on to earn a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.
After several years in teaching and pastoral work, Turkson was appointed bishop by Pope John Paul II in 1992 and was consecrated in 1993. He later became Archbishop of Cape Coast and served as president of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference from 1997 to 2005.
In the Vatican, Turkson has held significant leadership roles, including President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Fluent in six languages, he is widely respected for his scholarly and pastoral approach, especially on issues of global concern such as poverty, economic inequality, and climate change.
Though deeply rooted in traditional Catholic doctrine—particularly regarding marriage and priesthood—Cardinal Turkson has shown a compassionate and nuanced approach to contemporary issues, including homosexuality and social inclusion, aligning with the pastoral tone set by Pope Francis.
In 2022, after concluding a five-year term as prefect, Turkson resigned but was shortly thereafter appointed Chancellor of both the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences by Pope Francis.

If elected, Cardinal Turkson would become the first African pope since Pope Gelasius I, who served from 492 to 496 A.D. Though born in Rome, Gelasius was of African heritage, and his legacy remains a historical touchstone for the African Catholic identity.
Turkson’s potential election would mark a monumental moment in Church history, symbolizing both a return to African roots and a hopeful new chapter for over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. As the College of Cardinals prepares for conclave, the global Church watches closely, anticipating who will lead the Vatican into its next era.