Two African cardinals in the race

London: Two black African cardinals emerged as frontrunners for the papacy on Tuesday 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.

Two other contenders, Cardinal Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of San Paolo, and the French-Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, would also be a break with the tradition of electing only European popes.

Many believe the next pope should come from the developing world — particularly Latin America, where Catholicism is the dominant religion, or Africa, where the number of followers is growing.

Forty-two per cent of the world’s 1.2 billion-strong Catholic population— the largest single block — live in Latin America compared to 25 per cent in its European heartland.

After the long reign of a Polish pope — John Paul II — and a German pope, the Italian Catholic church will put a lot of pressure on cardinals to support an Italian for the papacy. Among its favourites are Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, and Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa.

Benedict’s resignation shocked churchgoers and left the senior ranks of the church in turmoil.

Revealing his decision to a gathering of cardinals on Sunday, he said his “strength of mind and body” had failed in the last few months.

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.

On Tuesday 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.

He sprung his surprise at a meeting to canonise three new saints.

Some cardinals didn’t understand what Benedict had told them and others looked stunned. “All the cardinals remained shocked and were looking at each other,” said Monsignor Oscar Sanchez, who was in the room at the time.

After the news was announced to the wider world Benedict said in a statement: “I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry [the papacy].

“In today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.”

A Vatican spokesman admitted: “It has taken us by surprise a bit.” The Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, said it was “a bolt from the blue”.

Among those with knowledge of the state of the Pope’s health is his brother, Georg, 89. He said yesterday: “His age is weighing on him. My brother wants more rest.”

The Pope had demanding tours ahead of him, including a visit to Brazil in July for the church’s World Youth Day.

On Tuesday he said he intends to live “a life dedicated to prayer”.

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.”

David Cameron said: “His visit to Britain in 2010 is remembered with great respect and affection. He will be missed as a spiritual leader to millions.”