Vatican: Pope Francis accepts Cardinal Turkson's resignation

Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson and Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2016. AFP - VINCENZO PINTO

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At the end of the year 2021, a resignation at the top of the Vatican hierarchy has just been announced with the departure of Ghanaian cardinal Peter Turkson.

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With our correspondent in Rome

,

Several newspapers had reported on it in recent days, it is now effective:

has officially accepted the resignation of Cardinal Peter Turkson, 73 years old.

The high prelate from Ghana was since 2016 the prefect of the dicastery for the service of integral human development, a "super ministry" of the Vatican in charge in particular of migrants, ecology and humanitarian questions.

Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny has been appointed

, pending new leadership.

No more Africans at the head of one of the administrations of the curia

The reasons for this unexpected change?

An internal audit carried out this summer, the Vatican said without giving further details, but also the expiration of the five-year term of prefect Peter Turkson.

Internally, major management issues are mentioned within this administration.

In addition to these questions, the departure of the Ghanaian cardinal raises another important question: from now on, Pope Francis no longer has a single African at the head of one of the administrations of the curia, a first since 1984.

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• Vatican

• Pope Francis