US EditionAfricans say a Black pope would be nice to have. But they are not too hopeful
- The cardinals qualified to choose the new pope will gather at the Sistine Chapel starting next Wednesday, with several African cardinals viewed as potential successors.
- The conclave follows Pope Francis' death on April 21, and the selection could produce the first sub-Saharan African pope in over 1,500 years.
- Africa has 1.3 billion people and hosts a growing Catholic population that now forms at least 20% of the global Church amid declines in Europe.
- Cardinals Robert Sarah, Peter Turkson, and Fridolin Ambongo from Africa hold socially conservative views and are seen as orthodox contenders to lead the Church.
- Many African Catholics hope for a faithful and unifying pope but consider an African successor unlikely, though cautious optimism and excitement exist about this possibility.
39 Articles
39 Articles
A Black Pope For the Next Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church has been at the center of religious life for centuries, guiding millions of faithful around the world. As the Church looks toward the future, a question arises: Could the next Pope be Black? This possibility invites conversations around diversity, representation, and the evolving identity of the Catholic Church. Historically, the papacy has been dominated by European figures, reflecting the deep roots of Christianity in Europ…
Francis paved the way for a Black pope – The Bay State Banner
He installed the first Black cardinal in Washington, D.C., connected with America’s first Black president and appointed three Black men who are in contention to succeed him. He condemned racism as a “sin,” visited poor Black communities and ministered to imprisoned Black men.
Africans say a Black pope would be nice, but they are not too hopeful
If the next pope is from sub-Saharan Africa, he would be the first in Catholic Church history. Catholic Africans think it is a long shot, though some are cautiously optimistic that Francis’ successor could be a Black cardinal from their…
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