An African cardinal from Burkina Faso may be disqualified from participating in the upcoming papal conclave due to uncertainty surrounding his date of birth.
Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo is at the center of a growing controversy after conflicting records cast doubt on whether he is eligible to vote for the next pope. Cardinals over the age of 80 are barred from participating in the conclave, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
At issue is whether Cardinal Ouédraogo was born on January 24, 1945, which would make him 80 years old and ineligible, or December 31, 1945, which would make him 79—just under the cutoff.
The discrepancy has sparked debate in Vatican circles. Last year’s official Vatican yearbook listed his birthdate as January 24, but the most recent Vatican directory now records it as December 31, 1945, according to The Telegraph.
Such confusion is significant: if the cardinal were to take part in the conclave and it was later confirmed he was too old, it could potentially cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election result.
Cardinal Ouédraogo is viewed as a conservative voice within the Church, making him a potential ally for traditionalist factions that may seek to reverse some of Pope Francis’ more progressive policies, such as allowing blessings for same-sex couples.
The sudden revision of his age has drawn skepticism. One Italian newspaper joked that the cardinal had “found the secret to stopping time,” while another headlined the story, “The Strange Case of the Cardinal Who Became a Year Younger to Enter the Conclave.”
Addressing the confusion, Cardinal Ouédraogo offered a straightforward explanation rooted in his rural upbringing:
“In my village, there were neither hospitals nor schools. I was born at home and was not given a birthdate.”
The Vatican has not yet clarified which birthdate will be officially recognized for the purposes of the conclave.