Africans root for first Black pope in modern history

Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, who has been discussed as a possible pope for over a decade.

Photo credit: Artur Widak via Reuters

Africans are hoping one of their own could become the first Black pope in modern history and build on Francis’s legacy of championing the developing world, though the chances of that happening appear slim.

A continent where religion permeates most aspects of private and public life, Africa is where the Roman Catholic Church is growing fastest, according to Vatican figures published last month.