Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, a Ghanaian prelate, could make history by becoming the first black Pope. Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, Cardinal Turkson is one of the top names mentioned so far who are in contention to become the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.
As one of the top candidates for the papacy, the clergy has served in various capacities within the top level of the church’s leadership. Following his ordination in 1975 as a catholic priest, Cardinal Turkson has held different roles as a religious leader and lecturer in the church.
The clergy became a Cardinal in 2003, emerging as one of the foremost African priests in the church. Also, he made history as the first Ghanaian elevated to the College of Cardinals. Pope John III during a consistory conferred on him the title of the Cardinal-Priest of San Liborio (St. Liborius).
After his elevation to the cardinalate, Cardinal Peter Turkson held key positions in the Vatican that have placed him among the leading candidates to lead the church. Turkson is a revered figure within the church and played an important role in the 2013 conclave that selected Pope Francis as the head of the Catholic Church.
He’s well known for his active role in resolving the conflicts of South Sudan, leading an entourage to the African country on two occasions. He worked closely with both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis during their lifetimes, further supporting his credentials to become the next leader of the church.
View on same-sex marriage
Despite being one of the front-runners to become the next Pope, Cardinal Turkson is an unpopular figure among cardinals and Bishops in Ghana and Africa for his opinion on homosexuality. In the past, Cardinal Turkson encouraged African governments to show compassion and care for the LGTBQ community.
Still, he opines that marriage should be between a man and a woman according to orthodox catholic laws. Meanwhile, he speaks multiple languages such as Fante (a local Ghanaian dialect), English, French, Italian, German, and Hebrew.
Side note on Cardinal Turkson who could become the first black Pope
Born on October 11, 1948, in Nsuta-Wassaw, Ghana, Cardinal Turkson was the fourth of ten children of a Roman Catholic carpenter. Throughout his early education, he schooled at the St. Teresa’s Minor Seminary in Amisano and St. Peter’s Regional Seminary in Pedu Ghana.
More so, his journey through academia saw him earn a Master of Theology and a Master of Divinity at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York. Thereafter, he received a licentiate and later a doctorate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.
He served as a lecturer at seminaries in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. At one point, the clergy was the Acting Chaplain and also a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast. He became the Archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 before his consecration five months later.
Also, the prelate held the position of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana. Between 1997 to 2005, Cardinal Turkson served as the President of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference.
