By M.O.Idam Esq
11th May, 2025
My quick research, shows that after Gelasius 1 in the 5th Century, there have not been any other person of African descent to occupy the number one seat in the Vatican city.
Pope Gelasius1 was born in the Roman province of Africa, the modern day Tunisia. After his reign, the black race is yet to produce another Pope.
Could there be a discriminatory practice in the Roman Catholic palpal progression?
Those who are tempted to jump into this conclusion should not be accused of hasty generalisation. I am tempted, too. However, after a quick research on the process of electing a Pope, my views have changed.
A Pope is elected by the college of Cardinals called the ‘ Conclave’ in the Conclave, no Cardinal is permited to vote himself but must vote another, after saying a short prayer inviting Jesus to bear him witness that he is about to choose the person he thinks embodies christ.., thereafter he cast his vote for the Cardinal of his choice.
No other process such as campaign or lobbying before the election was revealed in the sources I read from. I will not insinuate rigging or foul play either, since the process already provides for a prayer of conviction which a voter must pray before voting.
I think a Cardinal only needs to be popular with good deeds among his colleagues in the college of Cardinals, if he must win the election as a Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
I don’t know how many black Cardinals who are ‘building bridges’ ( reaching out to their colleagues in the Conclave). But I think the white Cardinals enjoy popularity advantage over their African counterparts hence it is easy for them to always win.
The black race must stop the feeling of victimisation always and find out what works for others.
Let Pope Leo XIV be.
