As Catholic Church grows in Africa, so do hopes for representation in next pope
As Catholic Church grows in Africa, so do hopes for representation in next pope

The African continent is home to one-fifth of the world’s Catholics. Many are hoping the next pope will come from their communities. Debora Patta reports.
Read the full article on CBS World
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is mostly accurate, with the key claim about the growth of the Catholic Church in Africa supported by multiple sources. The article exhibits a moderate bias by focusing on the hopes for an African pope, potentially overemphasizing this aspect. Some claims lack specific verification, but overall, the core message is consistent with available information.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** "The African continent is home to one-fifth of the world's Catholics." This claim is *not directly covered* by the provided verification sources. However, Verification Source #3 and #4 discuss the growth of the Catholic Church in Africa, implying a significant presence. *Internal Knowledge:* While not explicitly stated in the provided sources, this claim aligns with general knowledge about the Catholic Church's demographics.
- Claim:** "Many are hoping the next pope will come from their communities." This claim is supported by Verification Source #1 and #5, which discuss the possibility of the next pope being from Africa or Asia due to the growth of the Church in those regions.
- Implied Claim:** The article implies that the growth of the Catholic Church in Africa increases the likelihood of an African pope. Verification Source #1, #3, #4 and #5 support this implication by linking the Church's growth in Africa and Asia to the possibility of future popes from those continents.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Agreement:** Verification Source #3 and #4 both highlight the rapid growth of the Catholic Church in Africa.
- Agreement:** Verification Source #1 and #5 both suggest that the growth of the Catholic Church in Africa and Asia raises the possibility of the next pope being from one of those continents.
- Lack of Coverage:** The specific statistic of "one-fifth of the world's Catholics" being in Africa is not directly verified by the provided sources.