As the world grieves the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church finds itself at a defining crossroads with the selection of its next spiritual leader.

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta, marking the beginning of the process to elect his successor.

While preparations for his funeral are underway, attention has swiftly shifted to the list of possible successors, with two African Cardinals—Peter Turkson of Ghana and Robert Sarah of Guinea—emerging as prominent contenders.

Cardinal Peter Turkson

Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential Catholic figures. Born in Ghana, Turkson became the Archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 under Pope John Paul II and was elevated to cardinal in 2003, becoming the first Ghanaian to hold the title.

Over the years, Turkson has been at the forefront of Vatican conversations on social justice, climate change, and human rights. He has served as President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and later became the first Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, a role created by Pope Francis.

Turkson is known for championing a more inclusive and compassionate Church, addressing global issues like poverty and environmental degradation while holding moderately progressive views on matters such as homosexuality. His election would mark a historic moment, as he would become the first Black African pope.

Cardinal Robert Sarah

At 79, Cardinal Robert Sarah stands as a strong voice for Catholic orthodoxy. Born in Guinea, Sarah has had a distinguished career within the Vatican, serving as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 2014 until his retirement in 2021.

Throughout his tenure, Sarah became known for his unwavering defence of traditional Catholic liturgy and doctrine, including his opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and modern gender ideologies. He has also publicly criticised Islamic extremism, positioning himself as a defender of both Catholic identity and global stability.

In 2016, he sparked debate by advocating for priests to celebrate Mass facing the altar, a practice largely abandoned after the Second Vatican Council. His conservative theology and commitment to preserving the Church’s ancient traditions have earned him both respect and criticism within the Catholic world.

Pastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, on Sunday charged President Bola Tinubu to stop “playing God”.

Bakare said Tinubu’s administration is veering Nigeria off its course.

In his state of the nation address at his church in Lagos, Bakare suggested that Tinubu should adopt a more humble approach to governance.

Stressing that he does not want Tinubu to fail, Bakare said the president must “stop playing God”.

“The current administration is steering the polity adrift, it is time for this government to embrace humility,” he added.

Bakare also accused the current Nigerian leadership of attempting to turn the country into a Mafia state.

He said, “It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to turn Nigeria into a Mafia state. The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality are the executive and the legislature.

“It’s often said that these two arms of government suffered the worst forms of arrest and development because they were the direct victims of the era.

“But after 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, one must ask how much longer before our institutions finally mature.

“While it is not in dispute that our institutions and constitution are inadequate, it has become obvious that our biggest problems in this nation are the occupiers of these institutions and executors of the constitution.

“The quality of leadership in Nigeria has become so repugnant that citizens must declare a state of emergency on governance, demanding that every aspiring public office holder undergo rigorous psychiatric evaluation before seeking election.”

The spiritual director of the Okunerere Adoration Ministry, Nsukka, Rev. Fr (Prof.) Paul Obayi popularly called Fr Okunerere has reeled out accusations against his bishop, the Catholic bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Bishop Godfrey I. Onah. The spiritual priest revealed that the church has been oppressing him. The latest oppression came as the bishop and other fellow priests want to take away his land by force.

Here are some of the things Okunerere said in the about 30 minutes video.

“The church is my vineyard, I love the church, I love my Nsukka (Catholic) church, I love the bishop, I love the priests, I love them, but they are oppressing me.

“I was looking for a land where I will conduct my adoration but couldn’t find. I rented a place behind Queens College Nsukka and started my adoration there. Bishop Onah chased me out of the place, saying I was causing noise and distracting the Students of Queens.

“The past governor of Enugu State, Gburugburu gave me this piece of land I’m staying in now. I told the bishop that I have a land and I took him there to see the land. When he came, he then said that the land is fine to be used to build the Marian Shrine. I told him it’s my adoration ministry I want to start here and not Marian Shrine. He said I shouldn’t talk about it again. It is the same land that the bishop gave out to the church without consulting me, without any discussion.

“I give everything to the church, yet the church wants to strangle me to death. But it can’t happen!

“I bought and installed the best transformer in the cathedral of Nsukka Diocese which they’re using till today.

“Bishop Onah mandated me to build a museum where I would keep the deities I remove from villages. I spent 2.8m to build the museum upstairs inside the cathedral and reported to my bishop. The only ‘thank you’ I got from my bishop was that he asked me where did I get the money to build it when he has banned me from selling olive oil. Yet, I endured it.

“At Obimo, I got a land to build my adoration ministry. It’s a mountain. I spent more than 50m to level the place and create roads, then built a 30 room self con house there. The church collected it from me and I surrendered it. Kidnappers are using that building today to keep their victims because the church isn’t using it till today after collecting it from me. Bishop Onah said he wants to use the place as Nsukka Diocesan Pilgrimage Centre.

“I was posted to Obollo where I spent 10 million to build a church. Bishop Onah came to dedicate it and on the day of the dedication, everybody present was acknowledged but they refused to acknowledge me, Fr Obayi who built the church. Just after 2 months of dedicating the church, the bishop transfered me to Ikem, where everybody knows that the roads there are filled with kidnappers.

“I was an associate professor but no one in the Diocese ever announced me as associate professor, but those priests who became associate professors yesterday are recognized by the Diocese but I was ignored till today.

“It got to the point that fellow priests broke my gate just to take my land, they said they were sent.

“On bishop Onah’s Episcopal ordination, I supplied drinking water free to everybody in attendance.
“The oppression is too much. Priests are avoiding coming to my adoration because if they see any priest in my adoration, during posting, they will post the priest in a far away village beyond Adani in Uzo Uwani LGA.

“I have been inviting the bishop to my adoration but he refused coming, saying he doesn’t understand what we are doing here.

“If Charismatic draft a programme and include my name as a guest priest, when they take it to the Diocese for approval, the authorities will tear the programme on seeing my name there. They would ask the Charismatic why should they invite Fr Okunerere. For 10 years now, I have not attended any charismatic programme because the church authorities won’t permit me.

“Bishop Onah stopped me from going to London to preach, saying that I would go there to preach heresy. I asked him, before you became my bishop, I had attended 10 different programmes in London where I preached. Is it now you’re my bishop that I will preach heresy?

“The church refused to give me land for my adoration, and the one given to me by the government, the church wants to collect it from me.

“Since the church doesn’t want me again, I am leaving the Catholic church any moment from now. I can’t kill myself”.

Credit:Nonsonkwa Ochi War