Overview
- The Vatican officially revised the birth years of Cardinals John Njue and Philippe Ouédraogo in its 2025 Annuario Pontificio, making them eligible to vote in the upcoming papal conclave.
- Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo, now listed as born in 1947, will participate in the conclave, while Cardinal John Njue, listed as born in 1946, has withdrawn due to health issues.
- The changes bring the total number of voting cardinals to 133, with Ouédraogo representing increased African influence in the Church’s highest electoral body.
- The Vatican cited uneven civil registry systems in some countries as the reason for relying on updated documentation to determine the cardinals’ canonical ages.
- Critics have raised concerns over the timing of the adjustments, questioning the transparency and potential political implications of such retroactive changes.