A Black Wojtyla, the Sistine Chapel Outsider

By Giacomo Galeazzi
Vatican Insider
March 9, 2013

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Peter Turkson

Africa presents four credible names as ideal candidates to the papacy

The Ghanaian Turkson, the Guinean Sarah, the South African Napier, and the Congolese Monsengwo Pasinya. The African continent presents four credible names. However, in the conclave, Africa can count more on the quality of "papabili" candidates than on the quantity of voters (just 11 compared to 60 from Europe and 33 from the Americas). "Sarah's profile is one that is ideal for the Papacy: it combines pastoral experience at home and internationally in the Curia", says Father Bernardo Cervellera, Director of AsiaNews, the agency of the Pontifical Institute for foreign missions. Sarah has been Bishop in Africa, prisoner of war and now is head of the dicastery at the Vatican. He took the place of Etchegeray as "the man of the impossible papal missions" in the diplomatic and humanitarian fields from Lebanon to Southeast Asia. He is also held in high esteem by Obama and has chances as an "outsider".

In short, a "black Wojtyla" who is able to unite foreigners, the Curia and the White House just as the spiritual father of Solidarnosc did in 1978. Two years ago, at the Rimini Meeting, he won everybody over with his communicative ability and charisma. Certain sectors of the ecclesiastical hierarchy have reservations about the "young" Church of the dark continent; it is feared that the Cardinals may be surrounded by ethnic clans and unclear situations.

Joseph Ratzinger didn't think so when, as Cardinal in 2004, he told a German tv: "We are ready for a black Pope". And during his travels, he defined Africa as the "spiritual lung of the world". In short: a viable hypothesis. Moreover, the election of a black Pope wouldn't be a unique event (at least according to tradition). In fact, Gelasius I, Pope from 492 to 496, was a "romanus natus" (roman citizen).

But, according to the Liber Pontificalis, he was "natione afer" (African by birth). And for this reason, he is referred to as a native of Africa, specifically of Cabilià (Algeria). His skin was as dark as coal. Now, history can repeat itself.  African Americans are also cheering for a non-European, but not for Dolan O'Malley. In the Bronx, a group of Catholics of Ghanaian origin prays that their compatriot Turkson will emerge from the conclave.  "It would be very significant", said Ursulu Essifie of the Church of St. Margaret Mary in Mont Hope, a parish that was visited by the Cardinal in 2005: "He is someone who knows how to bring people together".

The numbers, explains sociologist Massimo Introvigne (OSCE representative against the discrimination of Christians) "are in favour" of the black Pope because "if the Church grows, it is due especially to Africa where Christians have surpassed Muslims". A "caput nigrum" for the Church.

The prophecy of the Popes by Malachy lists 112 short phrases in Latin that purport to describe all the Popes from Pope Celestine II (elected in 1143) to a Pope yet to come, described in the prophecy as "Peter the Roman", whose pontificate will end with the destruction of Rome and the last judgment.

According to the list, the last Pope should arrive after the one called "de gloria olivae", a Pontiff who, following the chronology, should be Benedict XVI. But a lost prophecy says that between Benedict XVI and the last Pope there should be another one, a "caput nigrum", a dark-skinned Pope. Turkson himself said at the Synod for Africa: "There is no reason why the Church cannot one day have a Pope of color, after all, we already have other notable cases (Kofi Annan, Barack Obama) and when a priest is ordained, the package includes his willingness in the future to be Bishop and perhaps Pope."

The white smoke leaves room for every possibility, even for an unexpected name (like that of a Pope of color). Back in 1978, nobody had predicted Wojtyla's arrival from Eastern Europe. Now the surprise could come from the South of the world.