The Catholic Church's Black Popes

The Catholic Church's Black Popes
(An entry in celebration of Black History Month)

Many people do not know that the Catholic Church has had three black popes. Writes Dr. Camille Brown:

This litany of Black Catholics would not be complete without some acknowledgement of the three black popes. According to The Book of Pontiffs (Liber Pontificalis), there were three popes from Africa. Pope St. Victor I was the first. He reigned from 186-197 A.D. as the 15th Pope. We should thank Pope Victor I for settling the controversy about when to celebrate Easter. Pope St. Militiades was the second pontiff from Africa. He reigned from 311-314 A.D. as the 32nd or 37th Pope (there are conflicting accounts as to his place in the Papal line). He was very busy during his tenure in the papacy while being consumed with promoting papal infallibility and writing hymns and epistles. The third African Pope was Pope St. Gelasius I who reigned from 492-496 A.D. as the 49th Pope. He was pope during a time of peace and religious toleration as Constantine became emperor and legalized Christianity. All three of these Catholic heroes embraced the faith with sincere hearts and complete devotion to our Lord and the Universal Church.


[link to romereturn.blogspot.com]