Cardinal Peter Turkson, 73, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, announced on Twitter on December 19, 2021, that he has handed in his resignation to Pope Francis due to his term as prefect coming to an end.
By resigning, the prefect therefore affirms that he is obeying the internal regulations of the Curia, which provide that the prefects or presidents of the dicasteries of the Holy See be appointed “ad quinquennium” - for five years.
However, the appointments and resignations of prefects depend above all on the will of the pontiff. "We must now wait for a new action from the Pope," the Ghanaian cardinal thus concludes in his brief message.
Cardinal Turkson therefore seems to confirm his resignation as announced by I.MEDIA on December 17. However, he does not refer to any difficulties encountered within the dicastery for which he is responsible.
Vatican sources consulted by I.MEDIA report management problems and mention the “audit” carried out by Cardinal Blase Cupich this summer as one of the reasons for the departure of the high prelate.
The Dicastery which he has served as first prefect was created only in 2016. He took head of it after serving as president of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace.
It combined the work of four Pontifical Councils established following the Second Vatican Council: Justice and Peace, Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, and Cor Unum.
Cardinal Turkson's previous message on Twitter expresses his birthday wishes for the Holy Father and his joy at serving with him.
