African Bishops Don’t Want A Pope Like Francis; We Want A Pope Like Christ, by Ngala Killian Chimtom

By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux, (Complicit Clergy), May 5, 2025

As cardinals prepare to meet in a conclave at the Vatican to elect a new pope, Catholic bishops in Cameroon and around Africa have been voicing their opinions about the kind of leader they would love to see elected to replace Pope Francis.

“Following the death of a pope, the process unfolds in three key stages. First, after the funeral, the cardinals gather to assess the current challenges facing the Church. This initial discussion helps them define the qualities necessary for the next pope — someone who can effectively address these challenges,” said Bishop Philipe Allain Mbarga of Ebolowa.

“Next comes the discernment phase, where they reflect on potential candidates who embody these qualities. Finally, the election takes place, marking the transition to new leadership. Throughout this journey, deep reflection and prayer guide their decisions, ensuring a choice rooted in faith and wisdom,” he explained.

While Francis’s legacy as a promoter of peace and justice, a warrior for environmental stewardship, and a crusader for an inclusive Church certainly resonates with clerics across Africa, many balk at defining the kind of pontiff who should be elected when the conclave begins meeting on May 7, except by noting that the new Pope should be like Christ himself.

“I don’t want a Pope like Francis,” Mbarga told Crux.

“I want a Pope who thinks and acts like Christ, and we pray that God gives us a good pope – a pope who can help us to go in heaven,” he said.

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda said the bishops of Cameroon were “united in prayer” for the cardinal electors who are in conclave to elect a new pope.

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