Kenya’s only serving cardinal, John Njue, will not take part in the upcoming papal conclave to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis, citing ill health as the reason. At 79 years old, Cardinal Njue remains eligible under Church law to vote, as only cardinals under the age of 80 may participate in the election. The conclave, a highly secretive and sacred event, will begin this Wednesday at the Vatican and will see 135 eligible cardinals gather to choose the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cardinal Njue’s absence initially stirred confusion when he was quoted in Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper stating he had not received an invitation and was unaware of the reason. “It is not because of health… I don’t know really… it’s difficult to comment about it,” he said. This prompted public concern and speculation over his exclusion from the conclave.
In response, the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi released a statement signed by Archbishop Philip Anyolo clarifying that Cardinal Njue was officially invited by the Vatican but is unable to travel to Rome due to his current health condition. “Although [Cardinal Njue] is eligible to participate and was officially invited… owing to his current health condition [he] will be unable to travel to Rome,” the statement read. It also urged the faithful to “continue to pray for the good health of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue.”
Cardinal Njue, who served as Archbishop of Nairobi from 2007 until his retirement in 2021, was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI in November 2007, becoming only the second Kenyan cardinal in history after the late Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga. He has been a significant voice in Kenya’s Catholic community, often speaking out on social and moral issues such as corruption, youth unemployment, and political ethics.
His absence from this historic vote makes him one of only two eligible cardinals worldwide not attending the conclave, the other being Cardinal Antonio Cañizares of Spain. The conclave will be held in the Sistine Chapel, where the participating cardinals will be sequestered until a new pope is elected by a two-thirds majority—at least 89 votes out of the 135.
This papal election carries immense importance for the future direction of the Catholic Church, especially on issues of doctrine, reform, and global engagement. With Africa’s Catholic population growing rapidly—estimated at over 265 million—the continent’s role in global Church leadership has become increasingly significant.
Cardinal Njue’s absence is a notable moment for Kenya and the broader African Catholic community, which had hoped for strong representation during this pivotal period. Nevertheless, the Church in Kenya remains unified in prayer and support as the global Church prepares to select a new spiritual leader for its 1.4 billion followers.
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