Cardinal Sarah, 79, known for his opposition to same-sex marriage, gender ideology, and mass migration, was previously considered too outspoken and too old.
Following Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea has emerged as a surprise contender for the papacy, gaining traction among conservative Catholics online.
Cardinal Sarah, 79, known for his opposition to same-sex marriage, gender ideology, and mass migration, was previously considered too outspoken and too old. But after his warnings on Europe’s cultural decline circulated widely, his odds shortened, with William Hill now listing him at 14/1.
“My biggest worry is that Europe has lost the sense of its origins,” Sarah is seen saying in a viral video. “You are invaded still by other cultures… which will progressively dominate you by their numbers.”
MAGA influencer Nick Sortor praised him as a “hardliner against mass migration,” while pro-Russian and African social media accounts also endorsed his candidacy.
Despite criticisms, Sarah maintains his loyalty to Francis. “Those who place me in opposition to the Holy Father cannot present a single word of mine… to support their absurd – and I would say, diabolical – affirmations,” he said.