The man many believe could be Pope, Cardinal Turkson, says he is willing to serve as Pope himself ‘if it is the will of God.’ Many people from his former school in New York State believe Turkson is a natural leader.
It has been a long road for the man who grew up in Ghana in a two room cabin which he shared with nine brothers and sisters but the piety which once brought Peter Turkson to New York may now land him the Papacy.
Throughout his Priesthood Turkson has always stood out in the crowd.
As a young man Turkson distinguished himself to the point where he was sent to study philosophy and theology in New York State, at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, and at the University of Albany.
Father Odartey-Lamptey at the seminary said Turkson was exceptional for his humility and his eloquence: “All of us as young priests and seminarists wanted to hear him often times that he preached.”
These traits have remained with Turkson and the 64 year old is a much loved figure within the church.
Born on 11 October 1948 in Wassaw Nsuta, Ghana, Turkson was ordained for the Diocese of Cape Coast on 20 July 1975. He holds a doctorate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. On 6 October 1992 he was appointed Archbishop of Cape Coast and was ordained on 27 March 1993.
Created and proclaimed a Cardinal by Blessed. John Paul II on 21 October 2003, Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson is currently President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast (Ghana).
On 24 October 2009 he was nominated President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He is highly regarded in Vatican circles.
Once asked whether he thought the time was right for a black Pope, especially in light of President Barack Obama’s 2008 election. Turkson replied “Why not?” He argued that every man who agrees to be ordained a priest has to be willing to be a Pope, and is given training along the way as bishop and cardinal. ‘All of that is part of the package.’ He also noted that former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was from Ghana.
Insiders at the Vatican describe Turkson as an extremely pious man, with a sharp intellect and good sense of humor. In keeping with the universal nature of the Catholic church Turkson also speaks 6 languages.
