Uganda Will Not Vote in Papal Conclave, Apostolic Nuncio Confirms

Uganda will not take part in the upcoming papal conclave to elect a new Pope following the death of Pope Francis, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Luigi Bianco has confirmed. The country’s only cardinal, Emmanuel Wamala, is 98 years old—well above the canonical age limit of 80 set for voting in papal elections.

According to Archbishop Bianco, this rule, established by Pope Paul VI in 1970, aims to ensure that only cardinals below the age of 80 participate in the election of a new pontiff. “Many cardinals are more than 80 years old,” Bianco stated in a public address. “But they no longer have this right, which is the most important right of the cardinals – to elect the Pope.”

Cardinal Wamala, who remains in good health, last attended the pre-conclave meetings in 2013 before the election of Pope Francis, although he did not vote due to his age at the time. Uganda has had two cardinals in its history: the late Emmanuel Nsubuga and Emmanuel Wamala, who was appointed cardinal in 1994 by Pope John Paul II.

The Vatican released photographs of Francis dressed in his vestments and holding a rosary, lying in an open coffin placed in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his 12-year papacy.

While he will not cast a vote, Archbishop Bianco affirmed that Cardinal Wamala is expected to be spiritually united with the College of Cardinals during this critical period for the global Catholic Church. “Cardinal Wamala will be united with his brother cardinals in Rome. He will pray to the Holy Spirit to guide them,” Bianco said.

The papal conclave is anticipated to take place between May 6 and May 12, 2025, in the Vatican, as the Catholic Church prepares to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 after suffering a cerebral stroke. His funeral is scheduled for April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.

This age restriction is based on the 1970 motu proprio Ingravescentem aetatem issued by Pope Paul VI, which stipulates that cardinals lose their right to vote in a conclave upon reaching the age of 80