Kenya’s only surviving Cardinal, John Njue, will not be participating in the upcoming papal conclave.
Although Cardinal Njue, 79, was officially invited by the Vatican to participate in the election of a new pope, he is unable to to travel to Rome because of his current health condition.
In a statement seen by TV47 Digital, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi Most/Rev Philip Anyolo clarified that Cardinal Njue is eligible and was invited to the process through the Apostolic Nuncio (a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See in Kenya).
“…the Office of the Archbishop of Nairobi duly communicated to the competent office of the Holy See that, owing to his current health condition, His Eminence John Cardinal Njue will be unable to travel to Rome and take part in the Conclave,” Anyolo says in a statement dated May, 6, 2025.
Anyolo called on the Catholic faithful to pray that the Holy Spirit may guide the Cardinal electors as they undertake the “solemn duty” of electing the next pope. “Let us also continue to pray for the good health of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue.”
Papal conclave
The Catholic Church’s clarification comes just a day before the conclave to elect a new pope begins on Wednesday, May 7.
The conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors during those days.
Officials and staff involved in the conclave took the oath of secrecy to ensure the integrity of the process to elect the new pontiff on Monday, May 5.
The oath-taking took place at the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, as stipulated by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 22 February 1996.
133 Cardinal electors
There are currently 135 cardinals from 71 different countries who are under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in the conclave. Two cardinal electors, including Kenya’s Njue, have formally told the Holy See that they cannot attend for health reasons, bringing the number of cardinals who will enter the Sistine Chapel down to 133.
The Holy See reported yesterday that all the 133 Cardinal electors are present in Rome.
A two-thirds majority is needed to be elected pope, meaning that if the number of electors holds at 133, the winner must secure 89 votes.
