Cardinal Peter Kodwao Appiah Turkson of Ghana

A much-talked about papabile, Cardinal Turkson, 64, is seen as one of Africas most charismatic church leaders. Currently the president of the Vatican office for Justice and Peace, he is also considered a Vatican insider. Turkson studied at a seminary in the United States. He has however caused controversy for his endorsement of a "world political authority" to regulate the economy as well as for showing a video at a Vatican conference last year about Muslim immigration in Europe, considered by some to be extremist.

Photo caption: Cardinal Peter Kodwao Appiah Turkson of Ghana salutes his compatriots after the ordination ceremony celebrated by Pope John Paul II on St. Peter's Square October 21, 2003, at the Vatican.

Credit: PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images