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Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, in the wake of a media report suggesting that he has abruptly offered to resign from a key Vatican department has put out a tweet saying he is waiting for "new action of [the] Pope".

On Saturday [Dec 18, 2021], Reuters reported that Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, seen by some as a candidate to become the first African Pope in about 1,500 years, has abruptly offered his resignation from a key Vatican department, sources familiar with the matter said.

Turkson, 73, from Ghana, has been a key adviser to Pope Francis on issues such as climate change and social justice, and is the only African to head a Vatican department.

But in a tweet, Cardinal Turkson wrote:

"In Vatican mandates of Office-Heads expire at death/resignation of Pope or expiry of 5yr term of office. One surrenders mandate for Pope/new Pope to renew/extend mandate or reassign. Turkson surrendered in 2013 Francis renewed 5yr mandate in 2016. Now must await new action of Pope!"