First black Pope in 1,500 yrs?
It has always been taboo in the Vatican to discuss papal succession, but for the last three years, the Vatican’s top hats have been seriously considering a successor to Pope John Paul II. The papacy has been held by Italians for over 500 years, and this time around, they are strongly lobbying for
By Gad Ruakoah
It has always been taboo in the Vatican to discuss papal succession, but for the last three years, the Vatican’s top hats have been seriously considering a successor to Pope John Paul II. The papacy has been held by Italians for over 500 years, and this time around, they are strongly lobbying for the return of this tradition.
The Igbo Nigerian cardinal, Francis Arinze, has, however, been lined to the succession since 1992. The Vatican media has over the years dubbed him “popeable†or “Papabili†— meaning one worthy of the papacy.
If he does come the next Pope, Cardinal Arinze, from Nigeria’s Onitsha State, will become the first black pope in 1,500 years. The last black pope was Gelasius I, who led the Catholic Church between 492-496. Before him there had been two other black popes — Victor 1 (189-199) and Militades (311-314).
Arinze’s election would gratify and fulfil the dreams of millions of default African Catholics who make up half of the Christian faith population in Africa. In the past 30 years, statistics show that the number of African Catholics has almost doubled to over 100 million, of which 30 million come from Cardinal Arinze’s home country, Nigeria.
Since his name first appeared in the media, early 1990s, Arinze has kept away from the media hype, concentrating on his work at the Vatican as the president of the pontifical council for inter-religious dialogue.
Although he makes frequent visits to his home country, Nigeria, Cardinal Arinze’s name is not widely known on the African continent. But the possibility of him becoming the first black pope in generations is supported everywhere in Africa, and has generated quite some excitement.
According to the American newspaper, The National Catholic Reporter, whether or not Arinze is elected is not the issue, but the recognition by western Catholics that Catholic population has indeed shifted to the south of the equator.
In Africa Catholic circles, Arinze is popular for his views on developing a style of Christianity that reflects African characteristics in the Catholic Church that is lacking on the African continent.
Another value asset that could help Arinze win the papal vote is his knowledge and proficiency in inter-religious work and the belief that he would be the man to harmonise relations between Islam and Christianity in Africa and in Nigeria in particular.
In the many times that his name has come up as a possible papal candidate, Arinze has received glowing tribute from the media: “An articulate and forceful speaker,†are just a few of the media eulogies paid to him. He does, however, have his critics; some of whom have described him as “John Paul II’s parrotâ€, who lacks originality. He is also criticised as being conservative and uncompromising and too strict a follower of John Paul’s doctrines on contraception, abortion and the ordination of female priests.
Arinze, however, has strong competition.
However, as an Igbo, he may claim extra average — Igbo’s profess to be descendants of the Biblical patriarch, Jacob. This would make Arinze not only the first black pope in centuries, but the first to claim a Hebrew lineage as well.
If, therefore, the election of the last pope (he was Polish) came as a big surprise in 1978, then that of the Nigerian cardinal, Francis Arinze,will be even more startling because, apart from Pope John Paul II, the papacy has been held by Italians for over 500 years.
The writer is a student of Mass Communication at Fairland University
It has always been taboo in the Vatican to discuss papal succession, but for the last three years, the Vatican’s top hats have been seriously considering a successor to Pope John Paul II. The papacy has been held by Italians for over 500 years, and this time around, they are strongly lobbying for the return of this tradition.
The Igbo Nigerian cardinal, Francis Arinze, has, however, been lined to the succession since 1992. The Vatican media has over the years dubbed him “popeable†or “Papabili†— meaning one worthy of the papacy.
If he does come the next Pope, Cardinal Arinze, from Nigeria’s Onitsha State, will become the first black pope in 1,500 years. The last black pope was Gelasius I, who led the Catholic Church between 492-496. Before him there had been two other black popes — Victor 1 (189-199) and Militades (311-314).
Arinze’s election would gratify and fulfil the dreams of millions of default African Catholics who make up half of the Christian faith population in Africa. In the past 30 years, statistics show that the number of African Catholics has almost doubled to over 100 million, of which 30 million come from Cardinal Arinze’s home country, Nigeria.
Since his name first appeared in the media, early 1990s, Arinze has kept away from the media hype, concentrating on his work at the Vatican as the president of the pontifical council for inter-religious dialogue.
Although he makes frequent visits to his home country, Nigeria, Cardinal Arinze’s name is not widely known on the African continent. But the possibility of him becoming the first black pope in generations is supported everywhere in Africa, and has generated quite some excitement.
According to the American newspaper, The National Catholic Reporter, whether or not Arinze is elected is not the issue, but the recognition by western Catholics that Catholic population has indeed shifted to the south of the equator.
In Africa Catholic circles, Arinze is popular for his views on developing a style of Christianity that reflects African characteristics in the Catholic Church that is lacking on the African continent.
Another value asset that could help Arinze win the papal vote is his knowledge and proficiency in inter-religious work and the belief that he would be the man to harmonise relations between Islam and Christianity in Africa and in Nigeria in particular.
In the many times that his name has come up as a possible papal candidate, Arinze has received glowing tribute from the media: “An articulate and forceful speaker,†are just a few of the media eulogies paid to him. He does, however, have his critics; some of whom have described him as “John Paul II’s parrotâ€, who lacks originality. He is also criticised as being conservative and uncompromising and too strict a follower of John Paul’s doctrines on contraception, abortion and the ordination of female priests.
Arinze, however, has strong competition.
However, as an Igbo, he may claim extra average — Igbo’s profess to be descendants of the Biblical patriarch, Jacob. This would make Arinze not only the first black pope in centuries, but the first to claim a Hebrew lineage as well.
If, therefore, the election of the last pope (he was Polish) came as a big surprise in 1978, then that of the Nigerian cardinal, Francis Arinze,will be even more startling because, apart from Pope John Paul II, the papacy has been held by Italians for over 500 years.
The writer is a student of Mass Communication at Fairland University