Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, the Archbishop of Kigali, will participate in the papal conclave to elect a new Pope, The New Times has learnt. When contacted, Cardinal Kambanda confirmed his participation, stating simply: “Yes, I will.” He, however, did not comment on whether he could be considered for the papacy himself. The conclave, composed of cardinals under the age of 80, is tasked with electing a new Pope following the death or resignation of the sitting pontiff. The College of Cardinals, which includes many appointees of Pope Francis, oversees the election. Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning, the Vatican announced. He was 88 years old and had recently been discharged from hospital following treatment for a complex respiratory infection. ALSO READ: Bishop Rukamba on the Catholic Church 50 year’s journey His death, 12 years after he assumed the papacy, has reignited global discussion about his potential successor. The Roman Catholic Church remains one of the oldest and most influential religious institutions, with approximately 1.39 billion followers worldwide. Cardinal Kambanda is among the cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave. He was named cardinal by Pope Francis on October 25, 2020, joining a group of 13 new appointees elevated to the rank—the highest within the Catholic Church after the Pope. Born on November 10, 1958, in Nyamata, Cardinal Kambanda is Rwanda's first-ever cardinal. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Kenya, where he completed both elementary and high school. He later returned to Rwanda and studied at the Junior Seminary in Rutongo (1983–1984) and the Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibanda (1984–1990). He was ordained a priest in Kigali by Pope John Paul II on September 8, 1990. Cardinal Kambanda has held various leadership roles within the Church, including director of the development committee and head of the justice and peace commission in the Diocese of Kigali. He also served as a visiting professor of moral theology at Nyakibanda Major Seminary. In February 2006, he was appointed Rector of the Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibanda. He became the Archbishop of Kigali in January 2019, succeeding Msgr. Thaddée Ntihinyurwa. The conclave to elect the next Pope is expected to take place two to three weeks after Pope Francis's passing, allowing for a nine-day mourning period and time for cardinals to arrive at the Vatican from across the globe. The last conclave, which elected Pope Francis in 2013, began just 12 days after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Of the 138 cardinals eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave, 110 were appointed by Pope Francis. This cohort reflects his emphasis on a more globally representative Church, with increased participation from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
