Joshua Bennett
There are 29 cardinals from 23 African countries, 18 of whom are electors. This means that African cardinals make up 13% of the College of Cardinals, representing approximately 20% of the global Catholic population that resides in Africa. The African cardinals in the College of Cardinals represent the following countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Cardinals in Africa | 29 |
| Number of Countries represented by these Cardinals | 23 |
| Number of electors among these Cardinals | 18 |
| Percentage of College of Cardinals that are from Africa | 13% |
| Percentage of global Catholic population that resides in Africa | 20% |
| Countries represented by the African electors | Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, and Tanzania |
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What You'll Learn
Who are the African Catholic cardinals?
There are 18 Cardinal Electors from Africa. Here is a list of some of the African Catholic cardinals:
Cardinal Robert Sarah
Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea is a noted conservative voice among the cardinals. He served as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments until 2021 and has vocally opposed gender ideology and condemned Islamic extremism. Cardinal Sarah was appointed Archbishop of Conakry in 1979 and was at the helm of the Guinean Metropolitan See until October 2001.
Cardinal Peter Turkson
Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson is a former head of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. He advised Pope Francis on issues such as social justice, climate change, and the Church's stance on homosexuality. Turkson's relatively liberal positions have sparked division within Vatican circles, though his international profile and advisory role under Francis give him significant weight among the College of Cardinals.
Dieudonné Cardinal Nzapalainga
Dieudonné Cardinal Nzapalainga is the Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR). He was the first Cardinal in CAR and the youngest Cardinal at the time of his appointment in 2016. He was ordained a Priest in the Congregation of the Holy Spirit on 9 August 1998 and proceeded to mission in France before returning to CAR.
Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke
Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke is the Local Ordinary of Ekwulobia Catholic Diocese in Nigeria. He was ordained a Priest on 22 August 1992 for Nigeria's Diocese of Awka. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Nigeria's Catholic Diocese of Ahiara.
Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo
Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo is the President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). He was born in the DRC 65 years ago and was ordained a Priest in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in August 1988. He served as a Priest for 16 years before he was appointed Bishop of DRC's Bokungu-Ikela Catholic Diocese, where he served for 12 years. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa in March 2018 and later in November of the same year, Local Ordinary of the Congolese Metropolitan See.
Jean-Pierre Kutwa
Jean-Pierre Kutwa served in and outside his native country before being appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Gagnoa in the Ivory Coast in 2001. He participated as a delegate of the Bishops of Ivory Coast in the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist in 2005. He was transferred to the Abidjan Archdiocese in 2006, where he served until his retirement in May 2024.
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How many cardinals are there globally?
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church. They are chosen by the pope and serve as his advisors. They are typically ordained bishops and usually hold important roles within the church, such as leading prominent archdioceses or heading dicasteries within the Roman Curia.
As of 15 June 2025, there are 251 cardinals globally, of whom 132 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinals are distributed across 94 countries across 7 continents. 71 of these countries have elector cardinals. Cardinals are appointed for life but become ineligible to participate in a conclave if they turn 80 before a papal vacancy occurs.
The College of Cardinals, also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. The college emerged in the Early Middle Ages and its size has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils ratified by the pope, and the college itself. The total number of cardinals from 1099 to 1986 has been about 2,900, nearly half of whom were created after 1655.
The number of cardinals has been a point of contention between cardinals and reigning popes throughout history. Some popes increased the number of cardinals to guarantee allies, while others refused to do so. For example, Pope Leo X added 31 cardinals in 1517, bringing the total to 65 so that he could have a supportive majority in the College of Cardinals.
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How many cardinals are eligible to vote?
The College of Cardinals, also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are appointed by the pope and serve for life. They advise the pope about church matters and attend various functions as a matter of protocol. When a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals elects a successor.
As of 15 June 2025, there were 251 cardinals, of whom 132 were eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinals who have reached the age of 80 before the day the see becomes vacant are not eligible to vote. This rule was established by Pope John Paul II in 1996 to prevent the conclave date from being manipulated to include or exclude certain cardinals based on their age.
The upcoming conclave will be the first with more than 120 cardinal electors. On 30 April 2025, the College of Cardinals released a declaration recognizing the right of all 133 electors to participate in the upcoming conclave.
Eighteen cardinals in Africa are eligible to participate in the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor.
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What is the College of Cardinals?
The College of Cardinals, also called the Sacred College of Cardinals (from the Latin Collegium Cardinalium), is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. The word cardinal is derived from the Latin cardo, meaning "hinge". The office of cardinal as it is known today evolved during the first millennium from the clergy of Rome. The first time the term cardinal was used was in the biography of Pope Stephen III, referring to the Roman Synod of 769, where it was decided that the Roman pontiff should be elected from among the deacons and cardinal priests.
The College of Cardinals was formalized in the 12th century, and shortly after, they became the exclusive electors of the pope. From the 11th through 15th centuries, the college was typically around 30 members, the majority being priests and deacons. The three classes of the college that are present today began to form during the pontificate of Pope Stephen V (816-817). Stephen V decreed that all cardinal bishops were bound to sing Mass on rotation at the high altar at St. Peter's Basilica, one per Sunday. The first class to form were the cardinal deacons, followed by the cardinal priests, and then the cardinal bishops.
The College of Cardinals advises the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. They attend various functions as a matter of protocol, for instance, during the canonization process. The college convenes on the death or resignation of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor. It is then restricted to eligible cardinals under the age limit of 80, which was set for the first time in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. Cardinals are appointed by the pope, serve for life, and are drawn from the world's bishops. They do not have ruling power, except during the sede vacante (papal vacancy) period, and even then, their powers are extremely limited.
As of 15 June 2025, there were 251 cardinals, of whom 132 were eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. The College of Cardinals has become increasingly diverse, with representation from 94 countries across 7 continents. This shift away from the historical dominance of Italians in the College of Cardinals allows for a wider range of experiences and perspectives within the college.
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What is the role of cardinals?
As of my last update on June 20, 2025, there are currently 20 Catholic cardinals from Africa, out of a total of 224 cardinals worldwide. Now, here is an explanation of the role of cardinals:
The College of Cardinals, often referred to as the Sacred College, is an assembly of cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons, who together with the Pope, manage the affairs of the Catholic Church. One of their most important duties is the election of a new Pope. When a Pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals convenes in a secret consistory known as a papal conclave to elect a successor. During the sede vacante (vacant seat) period, the College of Cardinals assumes a collective governance of the Church, although their power is limited to managing day-to-day affairs and organizing the papal election.
Cardinals are appointed by the Pope and are usually bishops or archbishops of major cities, known as their 'titular churches'. They serve as close advisors to the Pope and assist him in various administrative tasks. Each cardinal is assigned to a specific department or congregation within the Roman Curia, which is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See, through which the Pope governs the Church and exercises his universal jurisdiction.
The role of cardinals is multifaceted and can be understood through three main categories: electoral, administrative, and pastoral. Firstly, their electoral role is paramount, as they elect the Pope, who then has the power to appoint cardinals, creating an important bond of trust and shared vision for the Church. The Pope may also consult with the College of Cardinals on important matters, although the ultimate decision-making power rests with him alone.
Secondly, cardinals have significant administrative responsibilities. They head departments within the Roman Curia, overseeing various aspects of Church governance, doctrine, and discipline. These departments include the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Bishops, and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, among others. Cardinals are also involved in the administration of the Holy See's diplomatic relations, as the Pope appoints cardinals as his ambassadors, known as Apostolic Nuncios, to foreign countries and international organizations.
Lastly, cardinals have a pastoral role, particularly within their own dioceses if they are also bishops. They provide spiritual leadership, oversee the administration of sacraments, and tend to the spiritual needs of their flock. Cardinals are often called upon to preside over important liturgical celebrations, such as Mass, and to lead devotional prayers and processions. They are also expected to be exemplary models of Catholic faith and morality, providing guidance and inspiration to the faithful.
In summary, cardinals play a critical role in the governance and administration of the Catholic Church, working closely with the Pope to ensure the Church's mission and teachings are upheld and advanced. Their diverse responsibilities reflect the complex needs of the global Catholic community, and their influence extends far beyond their specific roles, as they are often seen as influential leaders and representatives of the Catholic faith.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 29 Catholic cardinals from 23 African countries.
There are 18 cardinals from Africa who are eligible to vote.
With 18 electors, African cardinals make up 13% of the College of Cardinals.
Approximately 20% of the global Catholic population resides in Africa.
Some of the cardinals from Africa include Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco from Algeria, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda from Rwanda, and Cardinal Stephen Brislin from South Africa.
