Fresh details have emerged explaining the likely absence of Africa’s Cardinal John Njue (Kenya) from the highly anticipated papal election.
As the Church prepares to elect a successor to Pope Francis, whose death last month marked the end of an era, the potential absence of a leading African voice has sparked renewed debate over representation, transparency, and health in the Vatican’s highest ranks.
Cardinal electors under the age of 80 are eligible to vote for the next pontiff.
Of the 135 electors expected to participate, 18 are from Africa—accounting for 13% of the total and representing a continent that is now home to nearly 20% of the world’s Catholic population.
The Cardinals are expected to gather at 10 a.m. Vatican time on May 7 for the traditional “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontefice” Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before proceeding to the Sistine Chapel for the conclave.
However, 79-year-old Cardinal Njue—Kenya’s second-ever cardinal and Archbishop Emeritus of Nairobi—is not expected to attend.
In an earlier interview with a local Kenyan newspaper, Cardinal Njue hinted at confusion surrounding his absence. “It’s not because of health… I don’t know really… it’s difficult to comment about it,” he said, raising questions about whether an official invitation was ever extended.
However, officials from the Catholic Church in Kenya later clarified that the cardinal had indeed received an invitation but was unable to travel due to health reasons.
Kenya’s Catholic church clarifies Njue’s absence
The Archdiocese of Nairobi has issued a formal statement to address growing speculation and misinformation surrounding the absence of Cardinal John Njue from the ongoing papal conclave.
According to the statement, there had been “various enquiries” regarding whether the cardinal would join his peers in Rome to elect the next pope.
“Although he [Njue] is eligible to participate and was officially invited… owing to his current health condition, he will be unable to travel to Rome,” the statement, signed by Archbishop Philip Anyolo, clarified.
While the archbishop did not specify the nature of the health concerns, he urged the faithful to keep Cardinal Njue in their prayers: “Let us also continue to pray for the good health of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue.”
Cardinal Njue, who served as Archbishop of Nairobi from 2007 until his retirement in 2021, was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007—becoming Kenya’s second-ever cardinal.
Though still under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote, he, along with Spain’s Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, are the only two out of the 135 eligible electors not expected to take part in the conclave.
Eligible African cardinals
The College of Cardinals currently includes 29 members from 23 African countries. Of these, 18 are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a papal conclave—15 of whom were appointed by Pope Francis.
These electors represent 17 nations: 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.
However, growing concerns surround the participation of some of the continent’s senior cardinals due to age or health-related issues.
Among the oldest eligible African electors(All 79 years) are Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop Emeritus of Nairobi; Cardinal Philippe Nakellentuba Ouédraogo, Archbishop Emeritus of Ouagadougou; and Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa, Archbishop Emeritus of Abidjan.
Then there’s 98-year-old Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala of Kampala, who, under Vatican rules, is no longer eligible to vote in a papal conclave due to his age.
