Peter Turkson: Impeccable profile of African cardinal tipped to succeed Pope Francis

• Posted on April 23, 2025April 23, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

• Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana is among high-profile candidates competing for the papacy following Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday, April 21
• Born in Ghana, Turkson has held several significant roles in the Vatican, including president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
• If elected, Turkson would make history as the first African pope since Pope Gelasius I in the 5th century

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson of Ghana is among the leading candidates considered to succeed the late Pope Francis.

This follows the pontiff’s death on Easter Monday, April 21, from a stroke and heart failure, according to the Vatican.

Turkson is among five high-profile cardinals considered top contenders for the papacy. He will compete against cardinals, Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Italians Pietro Parolin and Angelo Scola, and Péter Erd? of Hungary.

Who is Cardinal Peter Turkson?

Born October 11, 1948, in Nsuta-Wassaw, Ghana, Turkson is 76 years old.

According to the College of Cardinals report, Turkson began his seminary training at age 14, first attending a minor seminary in Ghana before moving on to a regional seminary from 1969 to 1971.

From 1971 to 1974, he studied at a Franciscan seminary in New York and was ordained a priest in Ghana in 1975.

Following a short period teaching at a seminary, Turkson pursued further studies in Rome, earning a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in 1980.

He later returned to Rome in 1987 to begin a doctorate but halted the program in 1992 when Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop. He was consecrated the following year and later became archbishop of Cape Coast.

From 1997 to 2005, he served as president of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference. Fluent in six languages, Turkson has held several major positions in the Vatican, including president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

In April 2022, after completing a five-year term as prefect, Turkson resigned. Pope Francis later named him chancellor of both the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Turkson has been outspoken on global concerns such as climate change, poverty, and economic inequality.

While affirming many traditional Church teachings—such as those on marriage and the priesthood—he has shown a more pastoral tone on issues like homosexuality, particularly during Francis’ papacy.

Should he be elected pope, Turkson would become the first African pontiff in over 1,500 years. The last was Pope Gelasius I, who served from 492 to 496 A.D. Though born in Rome, Gelasius was of African descent and was noted for his theological writings and commitment to social justice.