Cardinal Peter Turkson: 6 facts about the Ghanaian Leader in line for the papacy

Peter Turkson: 6 Things to Know About Ghana’s Cardinal and Papal Contender

Ghana's Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson is a leading papal contender. He is one of Africa's most powerful Church figures. Many believe the next Pope may come from Africa. Currently, he serves as chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences.

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City. This event has started the process to select his successor. Cardinals from 71 countries are gathering in the Sistine Chapel to vote for the next pope. In northwest England, many people pray in Roman Catholic churches, which are among the most Catholic outside London.

Cardinal Peter Turkson could become the first Black Pope. He was born on October 11, 1948, in Wassa Nsuta, Western Ghana. His father was Catholic and his mother was Methodist. He is the fourth of ten children; his mother sold vegetables while his father was a carpenter.

Turkson attended St. Teresa's Seminary from 1962 to 1969. He then studied at St. Peter's Regional Seminary until 1971. Later, he pursued education at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, earning a license in Sacred Scripture by 1980. From 1987 to 1992, he worked on his PhD thesis.

He speaks several languages fluently: English, Fante, French, Italian, German, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

Turkson began his priesthood at St. Theresa’s Seminary from 1975–1976 and again from 1980–1981. He also worked at St. Peter’s Seminary from 1981–1987 and served as Acting Chaplain at the University of Cape Coast from 1984 to 1986.

On October 6, 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Cape Coast. He was consecrated by Archbishop Dominic Kodwo Andoh on March 27, 1993.

Turkson became Ghana's first cardinal and participated in two papal conclaves: one in 2005 for Pope Benedict XVI and another in 2013 for Pope Francis.

In October 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. In October 2011, Turkson called for a global public authority to oversee financial institutions during crises.

In April 2022, Pope Francis appointed him chancellor of both the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

The media mentioned Turkson as a potential pope when Benedict XVI announced his departure in February 2013. Following Pope Francis' death on April23 ,2025 ,he is once again seen as a papabile candidate ahead of May's conclave.

An old video shows Turkson supporting the idea that an African could become pope. He discussed how procedures ensure any Cardinal can serve effectively as pope.