Something to ponder:
The last “Black” pope was Eugenio Pacelli. Why? He was a member of one of the “Roman” “Black Nobles [aka “the Italian Black Nobility”])” families.
The “Black Nobles” of Italy serve “Peter” (meaning the Church).
Some Roman Black Noble families are extinct, many more still active. The priesthood is one such way to serve Peter in these families (much the same way H.E. Christoph Cardinal Schonborn is something like the 19th member of the House of Schonborn to serve the Church).

There was talk (mostly hyped in secular media) shortly before JP2’s death and during the conclave that elevated Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy of a black cardinal (Arinze) or a Latin American cardinal (I forget his name) and continues for the reasons mentioned in this thread.

I don’t think it will happen. The world is too unstable and the Church continues to purge and purify itself. They will choose an Italian for continuity and stability.

In 2005 the College was looking for stability and theological continuity following JP2's very long tenure. They chose a "household name" (for Catholics)whose name was closely linked with JP2's. B16 is there to bridge JP2's papacy for the next pope and to absorb the sh!t that JP2's inner circle denied and covered up for a Pope who never fully recovered from being shot and '98 was too ill to decisively deal with renegade bishops and priests. All his inner circle cared about was protecting him.


But so far as prophecy of a “black pope” and a “Peter” the “Roman”. I would consider looking at bloodlines. Or maybe clerical lineage.

Personally, I think it will be Cardinal Bagnasco. I don’t know what his family lineage is.


Also, about the “Papabile” thing.

The list of “Papabile” (meaning those Cardinals who exhibit certain obvious personal and theological traits that make them stand out in the crowd of the 150+ men in College of Cardinals) is nothing more than the opinion of the author but also the focus of a lot of gossip in Italy.
There is usually 7-10 Cardinals on this list. The most widely acknowledged one (not Rocco Palma’s) does have one black Cardinal and two Latin American ones on it (one of them being a Cardinal from Opus Dei – have fun with that).
While there is occasionally talk of a U.S. Cardinal it is sort of common knowledge that a Cardinal of a “super power” nation is never elevated to the papacy.