Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu

Cardinal Ambongo, aged 65, is the Archbishop of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a leading candidate to potentially become the first African pope. Appointed by Pope Francis, he is known for his strong advocacy for the Catholic Church amidst challenges of persecution and violence in his country. A cultural conservative, Ambongo opposes same-sex marriage but has expressed a desire for religious plurality, indicating a nuanced approach to interfaith relationships.