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The Catholic Church in Kenya has addressed public concern over the absence of Cardinal John Njue from the upcoming papal conclave, confirming that he will not attend due to health reasons—despite being eligible and officially invited.
Cardinal Njue, 79, is one of 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote for the next pope following the death of Pope Francis last month. The conclave, where the new leader of the Catholic Church will be chosen, is set to begin on Wednesday at the Vatican.
Earlier reports in Kenya’s media quoted the cardinal saying he had not been invited and did not know why. “It is not because of health… I don’t know really… it’s difficult to comment about it,” he was quoted as saying.
However, a statement issued on Tuesday by Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi clarified that Cardinal Njue had received an invitation but was unable to travel due to an unspecified medical condition.
“Although [the cardinal] is eligible to participate and was officially invited… owing to his current health condition [he] will be unable to travel to Rome,” the statement read. The archbishop urged the faithful to “continue to pray for the good health of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue.”
Cardinal Njue served as Archbishop of Nairobi from 2007 until his retirement in 2021, and was appointed a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007—becoming only the second Kenyan ever to hold the title.
He and Spain’s Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, also 79, are the only two eligible cardinals not attending the conclave. A minimum of 89 votes—a two-thirds majority—is required to elect the next pontiff to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
