Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson has long been regarded as Africa’s most prominent papal contender, symbolizing the shifting demographic center of the Catholic Church from Europe to the rapidly growing Christian populations in Africa. At 76, Turkson continues to wield considerable influence within the Vatican, despite no longer occupying one of its top administrative roles.
Born in the southern Ghanaian town of Nsuta-Wassa, Turkson was the fourth of ten children in a humble household. His father, a Catholic carpenter, and his Methodist mother raised him in an interfaith environment. Ordained in 1975, Turkson went on to study theology in Rome and New York before being appointed Archbishop of Cape Coast by Pope John Paul II in 1992. Eleven years later, he became Ghana’s first cardinal.
Turkson has held significant roles within the Vatican, notably as President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and later as Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. This position, created by Pope Francis in 2016, tasked Turkson with addressing global social justice issues, including poverty, migration, and environmental degradation. His leadership extended to international forums such as the World Economic Forum, where he challenged the tenets of trickle-down economics.
Despite his strong credentials, Turkson has occasionally stirred controversy. He once showed a provocative video on Muslim demographics at a synod, and his nuanced stance on HIV/AIDS prevention and homosexuality has sparked debate. Nonetheless, he has also served as a peacemaker, notably mediating during Ghana’s tense 2008 elections and representing the Vatican in conflict-stricken South Sudan.
Turkson’s reflections on the Catholic Church’s challenges in Africa highlight a concern that Evangelical churches better engage congregants emotionally. He believes Catholicism must reclaim its vibrancy, saying, “In church, even to sing a hymn seems to be such a penitential exercise.”
While Turkson has previously downplayed talk of becoming the first Black pope, his name remains a constant in discussions about the future of the Church. As Catholicism continues to grow across Africa, Turkson represents both the spiritual depth and worldly awareness needed in a changing global faith landscape.
