‘His love for the continent was great’

Millions of African Catholics and leaders are mourning the late Pope Francis, who significantly raised the profile of Africa within the Catholic Church, home to 272 million followers, and was regarded as a voice for the marginalized. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised him as a champion of the poor, while statistics show seven million Africans converted to Catholicism last year, highlighting the continent’s growing importance. Despite this growth, Africa remains underrepresented in high-ranking Vatican positions, sparking discussions about the potential for an African Pope in the future.

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