Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson was born on 11 October 1948 in Wassa Kabusa, Ghana. He studied at Saint Teresa's Seminary in Amisano and Saint Peter's Regional Seminary in Pedu, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cape Coast on 20 July 1975. He earned a licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (1976-1980), began doctoral work there (1987-1992), and also holds master's degrees in theology and divinity from Saint Anthony-on-Hudson in New York. He taught at both seminaries and lectured at the University of Cape Coast.
He was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast on 6 October 1992 and consecrated a bishop on 27 March 1993. He served as President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ghana (1997-2004) and as Chancellor of the Catholic University College of Ghana from 2003. John Paul II created him a cardinal in the consistory of 21 October 2003, with the titular church of San Liborio. He was General Relator of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops in October 2009, and participated in the conclaves of 2005, 2013 and 2025.
On 24 October 2009 Benedict XVI appointed him President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. On 31 August 2016 Pope Francis named him first Prefect of the new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, effective 1 January 2017; he served until 1 January 2022 and is now its Prefect emeritus. On 4 April 2022 Francis appointed him Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He is a member of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Dicastery for Evangelization and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
Consequential Quotes
For us as a Church, it goes against the basic thing we believe about the human person right from Creation. We are created in the image and likeness of God.
Justice is actually the mending of relationships, the restoration of ties. In a situation like this, the cry for justice means the cry against what hurts brotherhood, what keeps brotherhood from happening.
Now, more than ever, is the time for nations of the world to shift from national security by military means to human security as the primary concern of policy and international relations.
Now is the time to build a world that better reflects a truly integral approach to peace, human development and ecology.
All assignments, appointments in the Holy See have a five-year limit. And when five years are up, it is expected that we place our mandate back in the hands of the Holy Father and await whether he confirms, reassigns or prolongs the appointment.
If the Holy Father decides to have me continue, that’s what it is. If he decides to reassign me, that’s what it is.
Major Works & Initiatives
General Relator, Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops
Served as General Relator of the synod on 'The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace' (4-25 October 2009), weeks before his appointment to lead the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
Pontifical Council note on reforming the international financial system
As President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, presented the Council's October 2011 note calling for a global public authority and reform of international financial institutions after the 2008 financial crisis, with an 'ethic of solidarity' between rich and poor nations.
First Prefect, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Led the new dicastery created by Pope Francis (Humanam progressionem, 2016), merging the pontifical councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, Migrants and Travelers, and Health Care Ministry, from 1 January 2017 to 1 January 2022.
Head of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission
Headed the commission Pope Francis created in April 2020 to analyse the pandemic's challenges; its security task force proposed shifting resources from arms production to health, food and work security.
Controversies
The 2012 Synod 'Muslim Demographics' video
On 13 October 2012, during free discussion at the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, Cardinal Turkson showed the seven-minute YouTube video 'Muslim Demographics', which projected rapid Muslim growth in Europe. Reporting at the time noted that experts had sharply disputed the video's data and projections since 2009; Vatican Radio described the presentation in critical terms and the Holy See distanced itself from the video. Some bishops in the hall questioned the film's veracity, while others treated it as a warning to be heeded. Turkson apologised on 15 October 2012, saying he had hoped to focus discussion on practical issues and had not intended an anti-Muslim message.
Remarks on homosexuality, African law and clerical abuse (2012-2013)
Responding in 2012 to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's call for Church leaders to defend LGBT rights in Africa, Turkson said some sanctions imposed on homosexuals in Africa were an 'exaggeration', but argued that the intensity of the reaction was commensurate with tradition and that a 'subtle distinction between morality and human rights' needed to be clarified. In a February 2013 CNN interview he said African traditional systems had protected their populations against clerical sexual abuse 'to the same extent or proportion as we have seen in Europe', linking the point to cultural taboos on homosexuality. Survivors' groups and LGBT advocates condemned the remarks as uninformed and as blaming gay priests for abuse. Turkson has also condemned legislation criminalising LGBTQ identities, while maintaining the Church's distinction between orientation and acts.
Departure from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (2021)
In December 2021 Reuters reported, citing Vatican sources, that Turkson had abruptly offered his resignation as prefect, with one source saying he had become 'fed up' with internal disputes, following an external review (visitation) of the dicastery led by Cardinal Blase Cupich at Pope Francis's request earlier that year and two senior departures over the summer. The Holy See presented the change differently: the dicastery's five-year experimental term had ended, all its superiors had placed their mandates in the Pope's hands, and Francis thanked Turkson for five years of service while naming Cardinal Michael Czerny interim prefect from 1 January 2022. Turkson himself told reporters on 21 December 2021 that Holy See appointments carry a five-year limit and that he awaited the Pope's decision.
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- Catholic News Agency — Turkson on George Floyd killing and racism, 3 June 2020
- Catholic Review (CNS) — Vatican task force calls for end to arms production, 7 July 2020
- CatholicPhilly (CNS) — Cardinal Turkson exits; pope names Canadian cardinal, 23 December 2021
- National Catholic Register (CNA) — Pope Francis accepts Cardinal Turkson's resignation, December 2021
- Reuters via Graphic Online — Cardinal Turkson offers resignation, sources, 18 December 2021
- The Christian Century — After controversial video, Vatican hosts serious discussion on Islam, October 2012