Joshua Bennett
While there has never been a black Catholic pope, history tells us there were three popes who were possibly black. They were Pope Victor I, who led the church from 189 AD to 198 or 199 AD, Pope Miltiades, who was pope from 311 to 314 AD, and Pope Gelasius I, who served between 492 and 496 AD. All three popes have been declared saints, and all are remembered for their profound contributions to the Catholic Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Black Popes in Catholic History | 3 |
| Names of Black Popes | Pope Victor I, Pope Miltiades (or Melchiades the African), Pope Gelasius I |
| Years Pope Victor I headed the church | 189 AD - 199 AD |
| Years Pope Miltiades headed the church | 311 AD - 314 AD |
| Years Pope Gelasius I headed the church | 492 - 496 AD |
| Number of Active African Cardinals | 16 |
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What You'll Learn
Pope Victor I: ruled from 189 AD to 199 AD
While it is unclear if there has ever been a Black Catholic pope, one of the three African popes who were very possibly Black was Pope Victor I, who headed the Catholic Church from 189 AD to 198 or 199 AD. Pope Victor I was a native of Africa, according to the "Liber Pontificalis".
During his reign, Pope Victor I played a significant role in standardising the celebration of Easter. At the time, there was no fixed date for Easter, and it was often celebrated on different days in various countries. Some Christians in Rome, for instance, observed Easter on the 14th day of Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. Pope Victor I issued a decree stating that Easter must be celebrated only on a Sunday and that anyone who disobeyed would face excommunication. This decision was not without controversy, and Victor I faced opposition from some bishops who disagreed with his severe stance.
Pope Victor I also contributed to the transition of the Western Church's Mass from Greek to Latin. His feast day is celebrated by Catholics annually on July 28.
The exact duration of Pope Victor I's episcopate is uncertain. While some sources, such as the Armenian version of Eusebius' Chronicle, suggest a 12-year reign, others like the Liberian Catalogue estimate it to be nine years, two months, and ten days. Lipsius, considering the pope's successors, concludes that Pope Victor I's reign lasted between nine and ten years, supporting the dates of 189–198 or 199.
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Pope Miltiades: ruled from 311 AD to 314 AD
While there is no concrete evidence to confirm that there was ever a Black Catholic pope, Pope Miltiades, also known as Melchiades the African, was of North African descent and ruled from 311 AD to 10 or 11 January 314 AD.
Pope Miltiades was elected on 2 July 311, according to the Liberian Catalogue, marking the end of a vacancy in the papacy following the death of Pope Eusebius. Miltiades is considered a martyr due to his earlier sufferings under the Roman emperor Maximian. He is also remembered as an excellent leader and pontiff.
During his tenure, the Roman emperor Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration in Serdica (modern-day Sofia, Bulgaria), officially ending the Diocletianic Persecution of Christianity in the Eastern part of the Empire. This was followed by the Edict of Milan in 313, proclaimed by Emperor Constantine and the emperor of the eastern part of the Roman Empire, Licinius, which extended tolerance of Christianity to the latter's territory.
Pope Miltiades played a significant role in resolving a schism within the Church of Carthage, which centred around the election of Bishop Caecilianus. The opposing parties were those of Caecilianus, supported by Rome, and of Donatus, mainly composed of North African clergymen who demanded the re-baptism and re-ordination of schismatics and heretics before they could take office. Constantine commissioned Miltiades with three Gallic bishops to resolve the dispute, marking the first time an emperor interfered in church affairs. The pope, however, changed the proceedings into a regular church synod and appointed an additional 15 Italian bishops. The council ultimately ruled in favour of Caecilianus, and Miltiades condemned the teachings of Donatus.
Pope Miltiades also prescribed the distribution of portions of the bread consecrated by the pope (fermentum) to all the churches around Rome as a sign of unity. He is credited with introducing several customs, such as not fasting on Thursdays or Sundays, although subsequent scholarship suggests these customs may have predated him.
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Pope Gelasius: ruled from 492 AD to 496 AD
Pope Gelasius I, who ruled from 1 March 492 AD until his death on 21 November 496 AD, was one of three African popes who very possibly were Black. He was born in the Roman province of Africa (present-day Tunisia) and is remembered as a prolific writer.
Gelasius was elected pope at a time of conflict with the Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius and the patriarch of Constantinople. He exacerbated these tensions by insisting on the removal of the name of the deceased Patriarch Acacius of Constantinople from the diptychs, despite the current patriarch, Euphemius, making every ecumenical gesture. Gelasius also continued the conflict with the emperor and patriarch over the Monophysite view of Jesus Christ, which held that Christ had only a divine nature. This was considered a heresy by the Western Church, which asserted that Christ had a dual nature.
During his brief pontificate, Gelasius called for strict Catholic orthodoxy and more assertively demanded obedience to papal authority. He wrote and introduced new prayers into the Latin liturgy, expelled the Manicheans from Rome and banned their books, and tried to suppress the pagan Roman festival of the Lupercalia. He also wrote the influential letter Duo sunt ("There are two") to Anastasius in 494, which addressed the relation between Church and state. This letter had a political impact for over a millennium.
Gelasius is remembered as a profound individual who, despite his short time in office, made significant contributions to the Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on 21 November.
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Black papabili: respected, but face acceptance issues in some parts of the world
While there have possibly been three Black popes in Catholic history, Pope Victor I, Pope Miltiades, and Pope Gelasius I, there has yet to be a Black pope in modern times. Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria was a possible candidate to be elected pope for years, but at 90 years old, he is no longer eligible. Arinze and other Black papabili are highly respected, but some question whether they would be accepted in parts of the world with a history of white supremacy, including the United States. There are currently 16 active African cardinals who are able to elect or become pope.
Pope Victor I, who headed the church from 189 AD to 199 AD, is known for declaring that Easter must be celebrated only on a Sunday and threatening excommunication for anyone who disagreed. He also began the transition of the Western Church's Mass from Greek to Latin. Pope Miltiades, also called Melchiades the African, served as pope from 311 AD to 314 AD and is remembered as an excellent leader and pontiff. Pope Gelasius I was pope from 492 AD to 496 AD. All three popes have been declared saints, indicating their profound impact on the Catholic Church.
The possibility of a Black pope brings up the issue of racial discrimination within the Catholic Church. While there have been Black popes in the past, they were not African American, and the Church has a history of prohibiting people of African American descent from becoming pope. This raises questions about the Church's commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially in an age where racial equality is a prominent issue.
The election of a Black pope would be a significant step towards increasing diversity and representation within the Catholic Church. It would send a message of acceptance and inclusion to Black Catholics around the world and could help to address the racial disparities that still exist within the Church. While the decision ultimately lies with the cardinals who elect the pope, the discussion around the possibility of a Black pope is an important one that highlights the need for continued progress in racial equality, even within religious institutions.
While some may argue that the race of the pope is not important, the impact of having a Black pope could have far-reaching consequences. A Black pope could serve as a powerful symbol of unity and progress, not just within the Catholic Church but also in the broader context of racial relations. It would signal a move towards a more inclusive and diverse Catholic Church, one that reflects the diversity of its global congregation. However, the potential for resistance and backlash in some parts of the world underscores the ongoing struggle for racial equality and the need for continued efforts to address racism and discrimination.
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Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria: a possible candidate to be elected pope in the past
Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria was considered a possible candidate to be elected pope in the past. Born in 1932 in Eziowelle, Anambra State, Nigeria, Arinze was ordained to the priesthood in 1958. He remained in Rome after his ordination, earning a master's in theology in 1959 and a doctorate in 1960. His doctoral thesis on "Ibo Sacrifice as an Introduction to the Catechesis of Holy Mass" formed the basis for his reference work, "Sacrifice in Ibo Religion", published in 1970.
Arinze had a long and distinguished career in the Church. He was appointed regional secretary for Catholic education for the eastern part of Nigeria and later transferred to London, where he graduated from the Institute of Education in 1964. In 1965, Pope Paul VI appointed him Titular Bishop of Fissiana and coadjutor to the Archbishop of Onitsha. In 1985, Arinze was made a cardinal and named Cardinal-Deacon of San Giovanni della Pigna. He later became the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. He served as a principal advisor to Pope John Paul II and was considered a strong candidate for the papacy in 2005 following Pope John Paul II's death.
However, Arinze is no longer eligible to be elected pope due to age restrictions. He is currently in his 90s and only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote or be voted for in papal elections. Despite this, Arinze continues to be a respected figure in the Catholic Church, occasionally speaking out in defense of the faith.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to Catholic Church history, there have been three Black popes: Pope Victor I, Pope Miltiades, and Pope Gelasius.
Pope Victor I headed the Catholic Church from 189 AD to either 198 AD or 199 AD.
Pope Victor I is known for declaring that Easter must be celebrated only on a Sunday. He also asserted that anyone who disagreed with this would be excommunicated.
Pope Miltiades was pope from 311 AD to 314 AD.
Pope Gelasius I was pope from 492 AD to 496 AD.
