In an interview with El Diario Daily Nation, The exarzobispo of Nairobi said he had not received any formal invitation to participate in the choice of Pope Francis’s successor. “Those who come there for the election usually receive official invitations and that has not happened for me. I have not been guest”he said.
In turn, he denied having a health problem that prevented him from traveling to the Italian capital: “It’s not for health reasons. I don’t know, it’s hard to comment on this.”
Some versions also pointed out that Njue It could have been excluded for having exceeded the limit of 80 years To participate. However, the Cardinal said that although his date of birth officially appears as December 1944, as transcended, his age was recently corrected in the Pontifical Yearbook, at the request of Cardinal himself.
However, this Tuesday the current archbishop of the Kenyan capital, Philip Anyolo, He contradicted the sayings of his predecessor.
Although Njue “is eligible to participate and was officially invited through the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya, the Apostolic Nuncio, According to the Nairobi Archbishop’s office, he properly communicated to the competent office of the Holy See that, due to his current state of health, his eminence Cardinal John Njue will not be able to travel to Rome And participate in the conclave, “he explained.
John Njue, 79, is the only cardinal that Kenia currently has and was appointed for that position in 2007 by the late Benedict XVI Pope.
2025 conclave: The Vatican will begin the choice of Pope Francis’s successor
The Sistine Chapel will open its doors next Wednesday, May 7 from 11:30, Argentine time, to receive the 133 cardinals in charge of choosing the next Pope. Then, The doors will close to maintain total secrecy and begin the elections.
The conclave is a historical process that began after the promulgation of the Constitution “UBI periculum” by Gregorio X in 1274. Thus, the first election of a Pope had Place in Arezzo in 1276. This Constitution established that the conclave should be held in a closed place, both inside and out, to avoid external influences and ensure a quick and fair choice. In this conclave, He was chosen innocent V.
At present, the process remains marked by a series of strict rules, centenary traditions and absolute secrecy. The cardinals in charge of choosing the next leader of the more than one billion Catholics in the world They will undergo rigorous isolation throughout the process.
Historically, the last ten conclaves have lasted an average of 3.2 days, without any over five days. The last two papal elections, those of Benedict XVI in 2005 and Francisco in 2013, concluded in just two days.
Source: Ambito
