COUNTDOWN: 9
WILL THE WHITE SMOKE ANNOUNCE THIS BLACK POPE?
A BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST CHURCH INSTITUTION
A STUDY OF TEN (10) CARDINALS MOST LIKELY TO ASCEND TO THE PAPACY.
- Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, The Voice of Africa: From the vibrant faith-filled heart of the African Continent, rises Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, our number 9 contender. At 65, he serves as the Archbishop of Kinshasa where he has become a central figure in one of the Church’s most dynamic regions. Church Gist. In a continent where Catholicism is not only surviving but thriving, Ambongo’s voice carries weight far beyond his diocese. Known for his commanding presence and passionate defense of traditional values, many refer to him as ‘The Lion of Africa.’ When debates began to swirl around the Church’s stance on blessing same-sex unions, Ambongo did not hesitate to draw a line affirming the dignity of all people to strongly reaffirmed traditional Church teachings stating they could not be compromised to accommodate modern cultural shifts. His position echoed throughout African Dioceses and cemented his reputation as a leader unafraid to stand firm even in the face of global controversy.
The idea of an African Pope, a first in Church history has never been more conceivable than now. With the center of Global Catholicism gradually moving South, some see in Ambongo not only a guardian of faith but a symbol of the Church’s future. Church Gist. Yet his resistance to progressive reforms may create deep fractures within the Conclave. Is the World ready to see Peter’s Throne occupied by a Lion from Africa? Time will tell.
Make it a date with us again tomorrow as we continue the journey of ‘who takes over the Fisherman’s Ring?’
Source: Messenger of God
#ChurchGist
