As di world bin dey wait to see who dem go choose as di new leader of di Catholic Church, e get one kwesion wey many Vatican watchers bin ask: Wia di new Pope go come from?

Wetin dem wonder pass na if e go come from di place wia di Catholic Church dey grow veri fast – Africa.

At least three pontiffs don come from di continent in di past, but di last - Pope Gelasius I – die more dan 1,500 years ago and some tok say na time for anoda pope from Africa.

Pope Francis bin want di leadership to reflect di global reach of di Church and 18 of di 108 cardinals e create na from Africa.

Three of dem dey "papabile", wey mean say dem be strong contenders for di job of di Pope – Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from di Democratic Republic of Congo, Robert Sarah from Guinea, and Peter Turkson from Ghana. Dem bin consider Cardinal Turkson papabile for 2013 too, wen Pope Francis bin dey elected.

Wen US-born Robert Francis Prevost dey elected, e take di name Pope Leo XIV. Catholics around di world happy, but some wonder weda dem don overlook Africa.

Di papal conclave wia cardinals dey elect di Pope na confidential process, so e no dey possible to know for sure wetin dem discuss. But e possible say one kwesion dey for di top of di minds of di 133 cardinal electors, Father Lawrence Njoroge, one Catholic author and professor for Kenya Jomo Kenyatta University tok.

"Make we vote for Pope wey go kontinu wit di agenda of Pope Francis, or get anoda one wey go chart a different path? I imagine say dem go dey divided on dis."

Pope Francis na reformer - although e no change Church doctrine, e bring softer tone on issues like make divorced couples dey receive communion, wey effectively allow bishops to make dis decision for local level.

For di end, Fr Njoroge say, e be like say while "African cardinals wey dey veri qualified to be pontiff dey, di question wey be di koko na about Pope Francis legacy".

E dey possible say oda factors bin dey at play too. Di Pope gatz lead a worldwide Church, e go take on board di needs and issues for evri continent of di world.

Africa still dey try to recover from di legacy of colonisation, Father Joseph Nyamunga, wey be di spiritual director of di Catholic order of di Institute of St Anne for Nairobi argue. E say, "na wounded continent".

"Wars dey evriwia, for Congo, and Sudan.

"You need pesin wey dey calm and stable wen you dey handle a big Church. As Pope, notin suppose dey wey go distract you from di job."

Fr Nyamunga say di Catholic Church for Africa need to focus on finding dia own identity, so dat dem go fit serve ordinary pipo beta.

"Di kwesion go be, wetin Africa need now? Na to be pope or to get back to our roots and find out wetin dey affect our pipo?

Africa, of course, no be di only continent wia kasala dey, wit ongoing wars for di Middle East, and Europe. Di new pontiff go need direct im Church through turbulent waters, e go wit issues ranging from di rise of authoritarian leaders to financial turmoil.

E gatz dey able to address di needs of di faithful for di Global South, wia di Catholic Church dey grow. But e go also dey expected to inspire and help grow di Church for Europe – wey di Vatican tok say e dey di least dynamic area.

Fr Njoroge say di cardinal electors bin dey look for " candidate wey go serve di Universal Church best, irrespective of im nationality or race".

Pipo see Pope Leo XIV as pesin wey dey listen, e go fit make di different factions of di Church feel heard.

But perhaps more importantly, e get leg for both di Global North and South.

Fr Njoroge point out say although dem born am for US, Pope Leo XIV spend many years for Peru dey do missionary work.

"E don visit all di 50 kontris wia im Augustinian Order dey work. E dey for Nairobi last December and e start parishes and projects for almost all di African kontris wia im order serve."

Although e no be African, pipo see say Pope Leo XIV dey able to connect wit di needs of di African faithful.



Cardinals gada as Pope Leo XIV greet crowds from di Vatican balcony - Peter Turkson from Ghana dey second from di right