Will the next pope be black? Ghanaian and Nigerian cardinals lead race for Vatican

Two black African cardinals emerged as frontrunners for the papacy yesterday after the shock resignation of Benedict XVI.

He became the first leader of the Roman Catholic church to step down in 600 years and the first to abdicate through ill-health.

Amid feverish speculation about the succession, two of the favourites were Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson, 64, and Cardinal Francis Arinze from eastern Nigeria.

The election of a black pope would reflect the growing strength of the Catholic church in the developing world. But it could be controversial in parts of Eastern Europe where racism remains a problem.

The Vatican denied that any single medical complaint was responsible but speculation centred on 85-year-old Benedict’s arthritis problems.

He needs a moving platform to take him to the altar in St Peter’s, and it is difficult for him to kneel and pray. Yesterday it emerged that the Pope made his decision to quit last April following a tour of Mexico and Cuba. The resignation, to take effect on the last day of this month, means a conclave of senior cardinals will meet in Rome to choose a successor by the end of March.

The Vatican said his immediate future will be spent at Castel Gandolfo, the Papal villa south of Rome, and that after his resignation he will retreat to a monastery.

Tom Montgomery, a second year seminarian from the diocese of Westminster studying at the Vatican said: ‘We were absolutely gobsmacked. Everyone is shocked.

‘But Benedict has been a Pope of surprises. He’s changed from being the Cardinal Rottweiler to being a German Shepherd. People said he hadn’t the charisma of John Paul. But he is a great teacher. People came to see John Paul but they come to hear Ratzinger.’