Unexplained: Cardinal Is Suddenly Two Years Younger

Until last year, Cardinal John Njue, the retired archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya, was known to have been born in 1944.

Since the day and month of his birth are not known, he would have lost his right to participate in a conclave on 31 December 2024.

But in Francis' Church things change. According to the latest papal yearbook (Annuario Pontificio), Nuje's new birth year is 1946. No reason has been given for this mysterious change.

Another prelate who had his year of birth changed, but not in his favour, was Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz (+2020), the Archbishop of Breslau. Until February 2005 his birth year was 1928.

Gulbinowicz then declared that he was born in 1923, saying that his parents had changed his year of birth to prevent him being drafted into the war.

Picture: John Njue, © wikicommons CC BY-SA, #newsWwvikumxvz