The Archdiocese of Nairobi has announced that John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop Emeritus of Nairobi, will not participate in the upcoming papal conclave due to health issues. The conclave, which begins on May 7, 2025, in the Sistine Chapel, will see Cardinals from across the world gather to elect a new Pope following the passing of the Supreme Pontiff.
Cardinal Njue, 80, had received an official invitation from the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya and is technically eligible to vote in the election. However, a statement issued on Tuesday by the office of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi, Most Rev. Philip A. Anyolo, confirmed that the cardinal will not be traveling to Rome due to his current health condition.
The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya, in consultation with Archbishop Anyolo, has already communicated Cardinal Njue’s inability to attend to the Holy See. The Archbishop’s statement requested the faithful to keep Cardinal Njue in their prayers and to invoke the Holy Spirit’s guidance over the College of Cardinals as they prepare to choose the next leader of the global Catholic Church.
“Let us join together in prayer, seeking divine wisdom for those entrusted with this sacred duty, and for the continued health and well-being of Cardinal Njue,” Archbishop Anyolo stated.
Cardinal Njue has been a towering figure in Kenya’s and Africa’s Catholic Church. Appointed Archbishop of Nairobi in 2007, he served until his retirement in 2021. That same year he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI. Throughout his tenure, Cardinal Njue was known for his strong moral voice, advocacy for social justice, and deep commitment to the spiritual and pastoral care of the faithful.
His absence will be felt, not only by the Kenyan Catholic community but also by the wider African Church, which has looked to leaders like him for representation and guidance in global Church matters.
As the conclave draws near, anticipation builds among millions of Catholics worldwide, awaiting the election of the next Pope—a decision that will shape the future of the Church for years to come.
