The election of Barack Obama as the first African-American US President could pave the way for the election of the first black Pope, according to a leading black American Catholic.
…Archbishop Gregory said that the next time cardinals gathered to elect a Pope they could "in their wisdom" choose an African pontiff. "My own election as head of the US Bishops Conference was an important signal. In 2001 the American bishops elected someone they respected regardless of his race, and the same thing could happen with the election of a Pope."
I agree with everything that American Papist had to say in reaction. No doubt the article was written through a specific lens, but I still find some of the quotes to be problematic.
For one thing is he saying that his election was really an important signal. That before that time I guess we had prejudiced Catholic bishops unwilling to elect a Bishop who happened to be black? It is the newspaper that implied that "The election of Barack Obama as the first African-American US President could pave the way for the election of the first black Pope." Though if the Bishop actually implied such a thing it would be rather silly to suggest that Catholic Cardinals were prejudiced and somehow resistant to electing a black Pope even if they thought he was the right man for the times. That we have many saints who happened to be black, but we would draw the line at making one pope. Besides Cardinal Arinze was certainly one of the papabiles last time around and it certainly didn’t take an American election to guide them in such a consideration. The Catholic Church has long been on the forefront in fighting racism including excommunications of slave owners.
Besides isn’t the Jesuit General known as the Black Pope? Or is that like Bill Clinton being the first black President?
20 comments
Excommunications of slave owners?
Why then can’t we do that with pro-abortion politicians?
From American Papist:
Victor (183-203 A.D.), Gelasius (492-496 A.D.), and Mechiades or Militiades (311-314 A.D.) were black popes. Is there a particular reason they are being ignored?
Joe Mainusch
I was pulling for Cardinal Arinze last time. Bring it on.
I wonder if the Anglicans would ever elect an African Archbishop of Canterbury? I won’t hold my breath.
Guilermo,
Actually the Popes you mentioned were from North Africa which was a Roman province. There is no evidence that they were black since black Africans were generally referred to in Latin as Aethiopes and this was not done in their case. This is a case where we just don’t know for sure.
Of the three, there is no evidence that I know of that Victor or Miltiades were of dark complexion. Gelasius was called an “Afer”… after the mid-Second Century an Afer referred to a non-Carthaginian north african. Which leaves the possibility that Gelasius was black, Berber or of some other local extraction.
Aw, who cares what color they were?
One of my favorite memories of teaching in the Archdiocese of Detroit was of some students who wore T-shirts emblazoned with saints and “blesseds” of African descent. Someone pointed out that St. Augustine was not black, but they retorted, “So what? He’s one of ours!”
And I thought that was – and is – the perfect response.
Who cares?! It’s history… everybody should care.
On the other hand, it’s a purely academic question. It makes no practical difference what color somebody is.
It’s like asking who was the tallest pope. It doesn’t have any practical effect, but it would still be interesting to know.
Banging. Head. against. Wall. Because American are so friggin’ narrowminded in regard to race, that means the rest of the world is and has been the whole time? So you mean to tell me there is nowhere to hide from the BS?
RE: St. Augustine-I don’t think they gave a rat’s patooty back then. Being black had a negative connotation after American slavery. There were centuries that it just meant you lived or came from a certain region.
As if American politics have anything to do with the selection of a Pope. If we elect a woman, is he going to think we will soon be electing a female Pope? What an absurd observation.
Barack is HALFrican-American.
Adeodatus, you are right: “it’s a purely academic question. It makes no practical difference what color somebody is”.
However it highlights a most RELEVANT POINT, SADLY missed, for a strategic plan now:
And is this: the Obaminator embodies the rabid–racist campaign to exterminate the ethnic bloods Hispanic + Black= St. Martin of Porres (I congratulated Jeff for moving people to ask his intercession).
Most vulnerable Latinos and Blacks are TARGETED by the racist PP ads + abortion chambers-mills locations for the current genocide in USA.
Cordially
Someone should tell His Excellency Wilton Gregory that glibness does not become a bishop.
If the holy spirit is responsible for the election of the pope at the conclave, is all of this talk about a black Pope saying that it is indeed a policitcal choice preselected before actually going in?
I have read about some of the past conclaves and questions have rose, and with statements like this from the former head of the USCCB, what does that say for the papacy?>
I for one would be somewhat skeptical if now a black pope was elected if and when our beloved Holy Father was to pass
When John in the combox rings, a sedevacantist gets his chiropteran wings.
=)
Besides isn’t the Jesuit General known as the Black Pope? Or is that like Bill Clinton being the first black President?
Of course the Jesuit Superior General’s nickname comes from the color of his cassock, not his race. (But you read Rocco’s blog, so you know that already.)
The whole “Bill Clinton is the first black President” thing is quite misunderstood. Author Toni Morrison invented that label for President Clinton for a New Yorker essay about Clinton, the Lewinsky scandal and the impeachment trial. According to Salon.com: Morrison was not saying that Bill Clinton is America’s first black president in a cute or celebratory way, nor was she calling Clinton an “honorary Negro.” Rather, she was comparing Clinton’s treatment at the hands of Starr and others with that of black men, so often seen as “the always and already guilty ‘perp.'”
Adeodatus
When Adeodatus places a combox post
One must read and keep their cool
Like a true Catholic with love and charity
We must understand he is a left wing liberal fool..
God bless you Adeotatus
Long life to our Holy Father, that this debate not have to be resolved for several years. And, oh, may President Obama be meet Pope Benedict and be enlightened.
I was really rootin’ for Arinze, but in retrospect, I think his exceedingly plain speaking of matters of truth and holiness would be wrong just now. The shepherd we have is a man of exquisite control of language, and the same courage of conviction as Arinze.
Besides, I remember reading that Arinze’s lack of true fluency in multiple languages was also considered a problem by many cardinals.
The Holy Spirit is one smart Guy!
Sigh.
Skin matters? It is true what Joanne said.
PS: Some years ago, a black girl won “Miss Italy” beauty contest. An italian reggae group named “Pitura freska” (“Fresh paint”) singing in venetian dialect made a song named “Papa nero” (Black Pope) that went
“Sara’ vero?
dopo Miss Italia aver un Papa nero?
no me par vero…
un Papa nero che scolta ‘le me canson in venessian
parche’ el ‘se nero african” (“It will be true? After Miss Italy to have a black Pope? I cannot believe it…a Black Pope that hear my song in venetian dialect because is an african black”).
That song made the italian top hit for several weeks…
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