Japanese missionary who was elected to lead the church’s charitable arm (Caritas) in 2023, Kikuchi knows the global church and would offer continuity with Francis’ pastoral priorities. Kikuchi spent many years working in Africa, including as a missionary in Ghana and helping refugees fleeing the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Meanwhile he’s taken a prominent role in the Japanese church and is known for his strong anti-nuclear weapons stance. His experience of ministering in different countries could be seen as an advantage among the increasingly globally diverse group of cardinals, while his leadership abilities have already been recognized through his election to lead the Japanese bishops’ conference, Caritas and as secretary-general of the Federation of Asian bishops’ conferences.