In the wake of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, 2025, the global Catholic community turns its eyes to the Vatican, where the sacred conclave will soon gather to elect the next Bishop of Rome.
Here in Uganda, where faith runs as deep as the Nile, many hearts beat with pride at the mention of our own Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala. Yet, despite his legacy, the 98-year-old from Kamaggwa Village cannot ascend to the papacy.
Let’s explore why, with a touch of Ugandan warmth and clarity;
The most realistic hurdle barring Cardinal Wamala from the papacy is his age. Born on December 15, 1926, the cardinal is now 98. However, the Vatican’s rules, set by Pope Paul VI in 1970 through the Ingravescentem Aetatem decree, are clear: only cardinals under 80 years old at the time of a papal vacancy can participate in the conclave to elect a pope.
This rule also implies that those over 80 are ineligible to be elected, as the conclave typically chooses from among its voting members.
This age limit isn’t just an idea—it’s rooted in the Church’s desire to ensure the pope can withstand the immense physical and mental demands of leading 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. Imagine the pope as a shepherd, trekking through the rugged hills of global faith, from addressing climate change to mediating conflicts.
At 98, even a spiritual giant like Cardinal Wamala, whose heart still beats for Uganda’s faithful, would find such a journey challenging. In Ugandan terms, it’s like asking a revered elder to run a marathon from Kampala to Gulu—wisdom permits, but the body may protest.
Cardinal Wamala’s age also means he no longer holds voting rights in the conclave, a privilege he lost when he turned 80 in 2006. He participated in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, a moment he described as “delightful.”
But since then, his role has shifted to that of an elder statesman, offering wisdom during pre-conclave discussions but not casting a ballot. In Uganda, we cherish our elders for their guidance, like a grandfather advising the family under a mango tree. Cardinal Wamala’s voice still carries weight, but the Vatican’s rules reserve the papacy for those actively shaping its future.
While canon law technically allows any baptized Catholic male to be elected pope, the reality is as predictable as Uganda’s rainy season. Since 1378, every pope has been chosen from the College of Cardinals, a tradition that reflects the Church’s preference for leaders seasoned in its highest ranks.
Cardinal Wamala, elevated to cardinal in 1994 by Pope John Paul II, is undoubtedly qualified in spirit and experience. But at 98, he’s no longer among the roughly 120 cardinals under 80 who will gather in the Sistine Chapel, making his election as unlikely as a boda boda outrunning the presidential convoy.
This tradition isn’t about excluding outsiders but about trust. The cardinals, like a council of village elders, know each other’s strengths and visions. Choosing a non-cardinal or an elderly figure like Cardinal Wamala would result into inviting a respected but retired chief to lead a new war council—possible in theory, but improbable in practice.
In Uganda, Cardinal Wamala is more than a cardinal; he’s a national treasure. Ordained a priest in 1957, he served as the first bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana, Archbishop of Kampala, and the first Ugandan chaplain at Makerere University. His invitation to Pope John Paul II for a pastoral visit in 1993 put Uganda on the global Catholic map. At 98, he remains a patron of the African Prisons Project, advocating for dignity in places often forgotten.
Yet, his age and the Vatican’s rules mean his role now is to inspire, not to lead from the Chair of St. Peter.
