(1 May 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Abidjan, Ivory Coast – 30 April 2025
1. Wide shot of the cathedral
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Miles Pattenden, Catholic church historian, University of Oxford: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT 3-4 AND PARTIALLY BY SHOT5++
“Well I think an African pope would be an electrifying possibility for the global Catholic church. It would signify that the church has a real global intent and mission, and I think a lot of people would embrace it very strongly. I’m not sure that there won’t in time, though, be a second reaction which is that, although an African pope will do wonders for the church in certain kinds of ways, it also will most certainly represent a return to a more conservative approach, both to teaching and practice. It’s possible that that will exacerbate, over time, some of the tensions.”
3. The priest looks on during the mass
4. Wide view of the mass
5. Various of bishops walk down the aisle of the cathedral
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Janne Dak Aboh, Catholic worshipper: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT7++
“Well, I have no problem (either way), because for my part, when God has decided, we humans have nothing to add. I count on the Holy Spirit to decide. Whether it is a Black or a white person, I count on the life of the Holy Spirit.”
7. Various of mass
STORYLINE:
Faithful in Ivory Coast on Wednesday joined a mass in memory of Pope Francis, admired across much of Africa for his peacebuilding efforts.
Jean Bellemou was one of the practicing Catholics who came to St. Paul’s Cathedral in Abidjan to mourn the pontiff.
He said his death had hit him hard, especially as he believed Francis had done so much for the African continent.
The conclave to decide on the pope’s successor starts next Wednesday and several African cardinals could be in the running.
They include Robert Sarah from Guinea, Peter Turkson of Ghana and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“If ever, by God’s grace, an African pope would be elected, it will be an immense joy for Africa,” Bellemou said.
Pope Francis visited 10 African countries, many more than his predecessors.
He often publicly prayed for peace on the continent and was not deterred by danger, visiting Central African Republic and South Sudan.
He also sharply criticized the West for taking the resources of Congo.
The African cardinals in the running are notably more conservative than Francis, who had what many viewed as a liberal approach.
Speaking ahead of the mass, Janne Dak Aboh said she was not too concerned about the race of the future pope.
“When God has decided, we humans have nothing to add. I count on the Holy Spirit to decide," she said.
Miles Pattenden is a historian and lecturer at the University of Oxford who specializes in the Catholic church.
According to him, many Catholics may be hesitant to speak on something that is meant to be decided by the will of God.
But he believes that an African pope is a possibility, and one that would make waves on the continent and beyond.
“It would signify that the church has a real global intent and mission, and I think a lot of people would embrace it very strongly,” he said.
But he cautioned that in time there might be another type of reaction to an African cardinal taking up residence in the Vatican.
“It also will most certainly represent a return to a more conservative approach, both to teaching and practice,” Pattenden explained.
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