Kenyan Cardinal John Njue has made a public statement revealing that he was not invited to participate in the recent papal conclave to elect the next pope.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on May 5, 2025, the retired Archbishop of Nairobi expressed surprise and disappointment at being excluded from one of the Catholic Church’s most significant processes.
Cardinal Njue, who served the church for decades and was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, clarified that he received no formal communication or invitation to travel to the Vatican for the conclave, which concluded last week with the election of Pope Pius XIV.
“While I understand that I have been retired since 2021, I still hold the title of cardinal and would have expected to be involved, or at the very least informed, about the proceedings,” Cardinal Njue said. “It is unusual, and I can only hope there is an explanation rooted in procedure and not personal oversight.”
Church rules dictate that only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave. Cardinal Njue, born in 1944, is currently 81 years old and therefore ineligible to participate as a voting cardinal. However, his exclusion from even the preliminary discussions or the ceremonial aspects has raised questions among local faithful.
Despite the apparent oversight, Cardinal Njue extended his congratulations to the newly elected pope and offered prayers for his leadership. He emphasized the importance of unity in the church and urged Kenyan Catholics to continue supporting the Vatican’s mission.
The Vatican has not yet issued a response regarding Njue’s comments.
