Nairobi Archdiocese: Cardinal Njue was invited to papal conclave but won’t attend due to health

The Archdiocese of Nairobi has clarified that His Eminence John Cardinal Njue will not participate in the papal conclave scheduled to begin on May 7, 2025, due to health concerns.

The clarification comes amid earlier reports suggesting that Cardinal Njue had not received an invitation to participate in the conclave.

In a statement on Tuesday, Archbishop Philip Anyolo said that although Cardinal Njue is eligible and was officially invited to the conclave through the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya, he will not be travelling to Rome owing to his current medical condition.

“I hereby confirm that although His Eminence is eligible to participate and was officially invited through the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya, the Apostolic Nuncio, in concurrence with the Office of the Archbishop of Nairobi, duly communicated to the competent office of the Holy See that, owing to his current health condition, His Eminence John Cardinal Njue will be unable to travel to Rome and take part in the Conclave,” Archbishop Anyolo said.

He urged the faithful to pray for both the cardinal’s health and the election of a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.

“As the College of Cardinals prepares to enter into conclave tomorrow, I earnestly urge all the faithful to pray that the Holy Spirit may guide the Cardinals as they undertake the solemn duty of electing our next Holy Father, who will shepherd the Universal Church. Let us also continue to pray for the good health of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue,” he added.

Cardinal Njue had told the Nation that he would not be able to attend as he had not received an official invitation from the Vatican.

“Those who go there for the election are usually sent official invites, and that has not happened on my part. The fact is that I have not been invited,” Njue told Nation in a phone interview.

When asked if his absence had anything to do with health challenges, he said: “It is not because of health… I don’t know, it’s difficult to comment about it.”

Cardinal Njue, who turns 79 later this year, previously participated in the March 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis. He served as the Archbishop of Nairobi from 2007 until his resignation in January 2021, which was accepted by the Vatican.

The Vatican News reports that 133 cardinals have confirmed participation in the upcoming conclave, despite Church law setting a limit of 120 voting cardinals. The Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis allows some flexibility, and this is not the first time the threshold has been exceeded.

On Wednesday, the College of Cardinals will gather at the Sistine Chapel to begin the secretive and solemn process of electing the 267th successor of St Peter. The conclave could last anywhere from two to four days, with cardinals required to secure a two-thirds majority vote to elect the next pope.

Cardinal Njue, born in Embu in 1946, holds doctorates in philosophy and theology, and has served in key roles within the Kenyan Catholic Church, including as president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.

He has kept a low profile since Pope Francis’ passing, telling the media last month that he was still in shock.

“I cannot comment at the moment… I am not ready to talk about it now,” he said at the time.

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