An African pope would be truly inspiring.

This week, cardinals from 71 different nationalities are convening in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope following the passing of Pope Francis.

Many members of these communities attend Roman Catholic services in north-west England, the region with the highest number of Catholics outside London. Akwasi Atuah, a 46-year-old from Ghana, is optimistic that the conclave might select Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, who has been highlighted as a potential candidate for the first African pope in modern history. As an IT manager based in Salford and a dedicated member of the city's Catholic cathedral parish for the past 36 years, he expressed, "Ghanaians take great pride in the accomplishments of our compatriots around the globe.

"We have a vibrant Christian community, and our Catholic members would be thrilled to see Cardinal Turkson become Pope. I believe the concept of an African pope would be inspirational for all Catholics and many non-Catholic Africans worldwide." On the other hand, Father Solomon Shamee, 41, from West Africa, is more skeptical about the necessity of an African pope. Father Shamee, who arrived in the UK in 2021 to serve as chaplain to the Manchester Nigerian chaplaincy and to coordinate the refugee charity Revive, remarked, "I don't think having a Nigerian pope is realistic." - BBC