Yes, Japan currently has two prominent Catholic cardinals who could be considered for the papacy, reflecting the increasing global diversity within the Catholic Church.
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1. Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda
• Current Role: Metropolitan Archbishop of Osaka-Takamatsu
• Born: March 3, 1949, in Nagasaki Prefecture
• Cardinalate: Elevated by Pope Francis in 2018
• Notable Contributions:
• Served as Bishop of Hiroshima and Archbishop of Osaka before his current position
• Actively involved in peace movements and advocated for the beatification of the “hidden Christians” of Japan
• Known for integrating Japanese cultural elements, such as haiku, into his sermons
• Held leadership roles within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan
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2. Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D.
• Current Role: Archbishop of Tokyo and President of Caritas Internationalis
• Born: November 1, 1958, in Iwate Prefecture
• Cardinalate: Elevated by Pope Francis in December 2024
• Notable Contributions:
• Former missionary work in Ghana and leadership roles in Caritas Japan and Caritas Asia
• Advocates for dialogue and peaceful solutions in geopolitical issues, including North Korea’s nuclear program
• Emphasizes evangelization and social justice within the Church