Last Updated- Oct 24, 2009 22:28 - - 14 Comments


Ghana’s Cardinal Turkson gets closer to becoming first black pope

Cardinal Peter Turkson

Cardinal Peter Turkson

Ghana’s first Catholic Cardinal, Peter Appiah Turkson is closer to becoming the first black pope ever of the Catholic Church.

Saturday October 24, 2009, Pope Benedict appointed Cardinal Turkson to head the Vatican’s justice and peace office. This position is a high-profile one that cements his reputation as a possible future candidate for the papal office, according to the Associated Press.

The justice and peace office is responsible for promoting the church’s social teachings on justice issues, such as war, the death penalty and human rights. Turkson told reporters three weeks ago there was no reason there couldn’t be a black pope, particularly after Barack Obama was elected U.S. president.

Turkson’s appointment to his new post was announced at the end of a three-week Vatican meeting on the role of the Catholic Church in Africa, which Turkson had headed.

Born in 1948, Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson became the first Ghanaian to be appointed to the position on October 21, 2003.

He has been the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference in Ghana since 1992. He is also the Chancellor of the Catholic University College of Ghana and the Archbishop of Cape Coast in Ghana’s Central Region. He was ordained priest on July 20, 1975; appointed Archbishop on November 21, 1992 and consecrated on March 27, 1993.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi

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Comments

14 Responses to “Ghana’s Cardinal Turkson gets closer to becoming first black pope”

  1. William Polakiewicz on October 25th, 2009 9:48 am

    I was surprised that Cardinal Turkson was declaired as the next possible Pope.
    Every since My wife Tamiko and I re-dedicated our marriage in the Catholic Church on Sept. 8th 2008, on the feast of the birth of Our Lady, unique things have been happening on key dates in my life. When I learned that Cardinal Turkson was born on my birthday, Oct 11, 1948 I almost fell out of my chair. Oct 11, 2009 is also the date of the Cannonization of Father Damien, a Priest I just finished learning about through the movie Molokia not two months ago.
    The Lord works in mysterious ways and as I become closer to God in my life, God is sending me good messages of approval. I wish Cardinal Turkson many graces and prayers. May God’s Will be done.

    Yours in Christ,
    William (Wild Bill) Polakiewicz

  2. Joseph Rothengast on October 26th, 2009 12:46 am

    If you check I believe one of the first popes was not only from Africa but was also black.

  3. Vincent Dominic on October 26th, 2009 2:45 am

    God bless Africa! May this wonderful continent produce more vocations to the priesthood, missionaries and religious life!

  4. Br John on October 27th, 2009 12:43 pm

    That was good news for Africa..
    may good lord bless Africa and all his pples
    Congaratulation his Emminece Cardinal Turkson..

  5. Katureebe Kizito on October 27th, 2009 3:17 pm

    It God’s choice, to make an african a next Pope. What is important is not the race or region where God appoints a pope, but continuation of God’s love for mankind that seeks a clear guidance to do what is expected out of humanity on earth where we are God’s image and ambassodor

    May God’ s voice be heard.

  6. Sam on October 27th, 2009 5:50 pm

    I was so happy to hear of Cardinal Turkson being called to Rome to replace Card. Martino, but I have to admit that I was a bit surprised and disappointed to hear Cardinal Turkson say that there is no reason there should not be a black Pope…true,there is no reason (I was hoping for the election of Cardinal Arinze)…but saying what he did, it could seem that Cardinal Turkson considers himself to be the one to fill that position…perhaps it is not what he meant…at any rate, I wish him well.

  7. Joseph on October 28th, 2009 12:02 pm

    These are ways through which the father almighty is preparing him for the GREAT POSITION. I wish him all the best and may he continue his great works.CONGRATULATIONS HIS EMINECE and PEACE be with you.

  8. patrick kyalo on October 30th, 2009 9:55 am

    First i thank God for his blessings on Christians especially the roman catholic church for the historical apostolic leadership. Regarding papacy,
    God will choose his best cardinal for the position when time comes. It is
    also good if the leader comes from a different continent other than Europe.
    NOTE; what is important is the good leadership which brings positive changes. CONGRATULATIONS HIS EMINENCE FOR THE NEW POSITION.

  9. Victoria Serwaa Twumasi on October 30th, 2009 1:02 pm

    Im very touched by the additional duty that has been given to His Eminence and I want to use this opportunity to Let the Catholic youth of the world know that,hard work pays and therefore everything that they do must be done well for God rewards through service to mankind.
    His Eminence didn’t get here through sheer luck,he got here through very hard work so we should emulate his example and we will go places and the world will be a better place for all of us.
    Your Eminence God Bless you and concratulations,As Ghanaian catholics we are blessed.

  10. Max Vardon on October 30th, 2009 5:37 pm

    There have in fact been three African Popes in the life of the early Christian Church; they were:
    # Pope Victor I (189 to 199)
    # Pope Miltiades (310/311 to 314)
    # Pope Gelasius I (492 to 496)

    Unfortunately the spread of Islam into Africa ahead of Christianity militated against more Africans rising up the hierarchy of the Church…

    Congratulations to Cardinal Turkson and May God’s Will Be Done.

  11. KINGSLEY KELLEY on November 2nd, 2009 2:11 pm

    Cardinal Peter Kojo Appiah Turkson has been very inspirational to the youth of the church and the world at large. I feel really proud to be a Catholic, Ghanaian and African. May the Good Lord see him through this mission.

  12. bonaventure kanayochukwu nwosu on November 6th, 2009 4:25 pm

    i thank God for the spread of the goodnews in Africa, particurlarly the recognition of African prelates by the universal church. We pray that God will guide him in his new assignment

  13. nathaniel on November 19th, 2009 3:02 pm

    it is most certain that we are in the end times. hell is about to break loose and heaven knows it. we are ready for the catholic church, we know what they are planning and they know we know. who can make war against the beast except the Lamb and His Bride…let the battle begin.

    may God be praised.

  14. John Grover on February 1st, 2010 5:39 pm

    I’m not surprised i’ve been predicting the last five yrs that cardinal turkson would become the next pope, and also the anti-christ, lets see if i’m right, and i actually got this idea from the prophecys in the Bible.

    I Thank God for his word

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