As of midday Dec. 18, the pope had not accepted the resignation of the 73-year-old cardinal, the only African currently heading a major Vatican office.
After a dozen years as a top Vatican cardinal and five years as head of the multifaceted Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Peter Turkson offered Pope Francis his resignation, according to multiple news reports. The Vatican had no comment on the reports, and as of midday Dec. 18, the pope had not accepted the resignation of the 73-year-old cardinal, the only African currently heading a major Vatican office.