The Catholic Church in Kenya has moved on May 6 to dispel swirling speculation regarding Cardinal John Njue’s absence from the forthcoming papal conclave, affirming that his non-participation stems solely from health-related constraints.
The 79-year-old prelate, Kenya’s sole cardinal, had earlier remarked to a local newspaper that he had not received an invitation to attend the election of Pope Francis’ successor, prompting public concern and theological murmurs across the nation. However, a statement issued by Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi later confirmed that Cardinal Njue had indeed been invited, but was “unable to travel to Rome”, due to his current medical condition.
As cardinals under the age of 80 convene in the Vatican this week to choose the next pontiff, Cardinal Njue’s absence—alongside Spain’s Cardinal Antonio Cañizares—marks a rare exception among the 135 eligible electors. The Nairobi Archdiocese’s clarification underscored the significance of transparency at such a critical juncture, addressing “various enquiries” that had emerged following Njue’s comments. While the archbishop offered no specifics regarding the cardinal’s illness, he appealed for continued prayers, noting Njue’s long-standing service and his spiritual stature in both Kenyan and global Catholic circles.
Cardinal Njue, who served as Archbishop of Nairobi from 2007 until his retirement in 2021, was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI the same year of his appointment, becoming only the second Kenyan to hold the title. His absence from the conclave is therefore deeply felt, not only as a national symbol of ecclesiastical leadership, but also amid growing aspirations on the African continent for a more representative papacy. While his seat in the Sistine Chapel will remain vacant this week, his influence—etched in the spiritual fabric of Kenyan Catholicism—endures beyond the walls of the Vatican.