By: Roy Douglas Malonson
In the hallowed halls of the Vatican, where marble saints look down upon centuries of tradition, one question echoes louder today than ever before: Is the Church ready for a Black Pope? And perhaps more importantly, why hasn’t it happened yet?
For over 2,000 years, the Roman Catholic Church has preached the universality of God’s love — yet its highest earthly office, the papacy, has remained untouched by Black leadership. Despite Africa being home to over 250 million Catholics — more than in Europe — and Black people being among the most faithful believers worldwide, no African or African- descended leader has ever been elevated to the seat of Saint Peter.
So we ask, not just as a rhetorical question, but as a prophetic challenge: In the name of the Lord, is it time for a Black Pope?
A History That Can’t Be Denied
Let’s be clear: Black presence in the Church is nothing new. Early Christianity had deep roots in Africa. Saint Augustine of Hippo, one of the most influential theologians in Church history, was born in what is now Algeria. Three early popes — St. Victor I, St. Miltiades, and St. Gelasius I — were of African ori- gin. But in recent centuries, Black leadership in the Church has been largely symbolic, not structural.
Despite this rich legacy, no Black cardinal has ever been elected Pope in modern times. And while African cardinals like Francis Arinze of Nigeria and Peter Turkson of Ghana have made headlines as “pa pabile” (potential Popes), the final vote always goes another direction. Why?
The Unspoken Truth: Race and Power in the Church
The Catholic Church is a global institution, yet whiteness still dominates its imagery, leadership, and narrative. From the paintings of a European-looking Jesus to the cardinals’ red robes in Rome, power is often cloaked in cultural uniformity. There’s an unspoken gatekeeping that says leadership must look a certain way — or come from certain parts of the world.
But the tides are shifting.
With Africa and Latin America projected to be the center of Catholic growth in the 21st century, the Church faces a spiritual and political crossroads. Can it truly claim to represent all of God’s people while failing to elevate leaders who look like the global majority?
A Pope Who Looks Like Us
Imagine the impact of a Black Pope. Imagine young Black boys and girls around the world seeing a man who looks like their grandfather or uncle standing at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, offering a blessing to the entire world. Imagine what it would mean to Black Catholics in America who often feel unseen, unheard, and unrepresented in both religious and civic spaces.
Representation is not about vanity — it’s about validation. It’s about heal- ing centuries of exclusion and offering a sign that the divine sees all of His children equally.
The Prophetic Moment Is Now
Some say the Church is not ready. But when has readiness ever been a requirement for divine transformation?
Was America ready for a Black president in 2008? Was South Africa ready to free Nelson Mandela? Was the world ready for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream? No — but the Spirit moved anyway.
The same must be said for the Church. If it truly believes in God’s justice, God’s equity, and the power of the Holy Spirit, then it must be bold enough to break the chains of Eurocentric tradition and embrace a vision of leadership that reflects all corners of the Kingdom.
We don’t need tokenism. We need truth. We need faith. We need action.
Final Benediction
So we ask again: Is the Church ready for a Black Pope?
Ready or not, the time has come. Not just for symbolism, but for substance. For a reckoning of what it means to serve a global God through a global Church. If the Vatican wants to re- main relevant, especially to its fastest-growing population — Africans and African-descended people — then it must look beyond Rome and toward the rising Black voices of faith, wisdom, and leadership.
Because the next Pope might not just be a man of God—He might be a Black man of God. And when that day comes, may the Church not be surprised — but sanctified.
