By Chuol Jany| CRN
Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, the Archbishop of Juba and head of the Catholic Church in South Sudan, is set to play a historic role in the election of the next Pope.
He will join 17 other African cardinals in Rome as part of the 135 cardinal electors eligible to vote in the upcoming papal conclave, following the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 17, 2025.
Cardinal Mulla, 61, was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis on July 9, 2023—just five months after the Pontiff made a landmark visit to South Sudan. His promotion marked a significant recognition of the growing importance of the Catholic Church in Africa, particularly in countries experiencing conflict and rapid social change.
The papal conclave, a centuries-old tradition, involves cardinals under the age of 80 gathering in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. While Europe still holds the largest number of cardinal electors, Africa continues to gain prominence. According to a report by Deutsche Welle (DW), Asia ranks second in terms of voting cardinals.
Africa’s delegation includes prominent figures such as Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa of Ivory Coast, and Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of South Africa. Other participating nations include Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Central African Republic, Guinea, Algeria, Madagascar, Cape Verde, and Morocco.
Cardinal Mulla’s involvement not only highlights South Sudan’s growing voice in global Catholic affairs but also reflects Pope Francis’s broader vision of a more inclusive and globally representative Church.
As the conclave prepares to convene in the coming weeks, all eyes will be on the cardinals, including those from Africa, who could play a decisive role in shaping the future of the Catholic Church.