However,the profiles of these three Nigerian cardinals are also qualified for consideration.
Ninety-four months after his election, Pope Benedict XVI yesterday stunned the world, announcing that he would quit his headship of the Catholic Church on February 28 due to his “incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to him. He has spent seven and a half years since he was elected in April 19,2005.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has at
least three popular cardinals – Cardinal Francis Arinze, Cardinal
Anthony Olubunmi Okogie and Cardinal John Onaiyekan. All the three could
vote. Arinze, who was born in November 1932, will turn 80 in November
this year. Okogie, retired at the mandatory retirement age of 75 last
year, while Onaiyekan was born in 1944.
However, since the new pope will emerge
from among the conclave of cardinals, one of the questions that arise in
the wake of the pope’s resignation is: can any of these Nigerians make
history by becoming the first African or black person to attain this
plum position?
No comments:
Post a Comment