As the global conversation on race, faith, and representation deepens, a bold question is emerging from both pews and pulpits alike: Was Jesus Black? And in a Church that boasts over 1.3 billion followers—many of them African—is it time for a Black Catholic Pope? These questions are not new, but they are gaining new relevance in a world grappling with identity, inclusion, and historical truth.
The African Origin of Humanity
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Let’s start with science. According to geneticist Dr. Sarah Tishkoff of the University of Pennsylvania, “The most genetic diversity on Earth is found in African populations. That tells us modern humans originated in Africa.” Mitochondrial DNA, which is passed down exclusively through the maternal line, points to a common African ancestor known as “Mitochondrial Eve,” who lived around 150,000 years ago in East Africa—most likely in what is today Kenya, Tanzania, or Ethiopia.
“All the feminine mitochondria are entwined in a long umbilical cord that leads to Africa,” explains geneticist Dr. Spencer Wells in Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey. “The genealogy reveals without doubt that Africa is the cradle of humanity.”
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This fact not only places Africa at the center of human origins, but challenges Eurocentric portrayals of history and religion—particularly how sacred figures like Jesus have been depicted for centuries.
Was Jesus Black?
Biblical and historical evidence suggest that Jesus, born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, would have looked like the people of the Middle East at that time—dark-skinned, with woolly hair and Semitic features. Yet European colonialism and Renaissance art reimagined Jesus as a pale, blue-eyed man.
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“Jesus likely had brown skin, brown eyes, and dark hair,” says Dr. Joan Taylor, Professor of Christian Origins at King’s College London. “He was a Jew from the Middle East, not a European.” In her book What Did Jesus Look Like, Taylor presents archaeological and cultural evidence that portrays a very different image from the Westernized version.
In essence, Jesus was not white—and given the proximity of ancient Israel to Africa, he may well have shared traits with modern East Africans.
Why Not a Black Pope?
This question goes beyond representation—it touches on history, theology, and justice. While the Roman Catholic Church has spread to every corner of the world, the highest seat of power—the papacy—has remained overwhelmingly European. Of the 266 popes in history, none has been Black. Yet today, Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing Catholic populations in the world.
Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, a widely respected figure in Vatican circles, told Crux in 2020, “The African Church is not just growing in numbers. It is growing in maturity, in vocations, and in its contribution to global Catholicism.”
And yet, the College of Cardinals remains skewed toward Europe. Pope Francis has made strides by appointing more cardinals from the Global South, but structural inequalities persist.
Also Read: Why the Catholic Pope is World’s Most Protected Clergy and How He is Guarded
“The Church cannot fully preach universality if its leadership doesn’t reflect the universality of its flock,” said theologian Father Paul Kollman, Executive Director of the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame.
Race Is a Social Construct
So, why have racial hierarchies persisted, even in spiritual institutions? Much of it stems from outdated and discredited ideas of racial division. At one time, children were taught in school that there were four races—white, black, yellow, and brown—with white often portrayed as “superior.” But science says otherwise.
“There is no biological basis for race,” states the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. “All humans belong to one species—Homo sapiens. The variations in skin color are the result of adaptations to different environments over millennia.”
As explained by Dr. Nina Jablonski, a biological anthropologist at Penn State University, “Melanin is the pigment that gives color to the skin. Darker skin evolved to protect against ultraviolet rays in sunny climates. In colder, less sunny regions, skin lightened to better absorb Vitamin D.”
Thus, scientifically speaking, a white person is essentially a “depigmented” Black person. The changes did not occur over a generation, but over thousands of years.
As one African proverb reminds us: “We are all born from the same womb—the Earth Mother.”
One Race, One Faith, One Future?
Despite the physical differences that evolved due to climate and geography—curly or straight hair, broad or narrow noses, round or almond-shaped eyes—the core truth remains: we are one human family. The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu often said, “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
As the Church looks to the future, perhaps it is time to reimagine its leadership, not as a relic of European tradition, but as a beacon of global unity.
Imagine a Pope from Nairobi, Kinshasa, or Abuja—someone who speaks not only Latin and Italian, but also Swahili or Yoruba. A pontiff whose very presence affirms the African roots of all humanity and the inclusivity of Christ’s message.
Also Read: Meet Cardinal Robert Sarah: A Possible African Successor to Pope Francis
As Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea once said, “Africa is the spiritual lung of humanity. It has something to say to the world.”
A Time for Truth, A Time for Change
In 2023, Pope Francis publicly acknowledged the Church’s complicity in colonialism and racism, stating during a visit to Africa: “The wounds of the past must never be ignored… the Church must be an agent of reconciliation and justice.”
That justice may now require action—not just words. Elevating a Black Pope would not only correct centuries of exclusion but also signal a deep understanding of what it means to be truly Catholic—universal, inclusive, and just.
It’s time we reevaluate not only what Jesus looked like, but who gets to represent him. It’s time the Church walks the talk on racial justice. It’s time for leadership that reflects the fullness of humanity—starting from the very place where life began: Africa.
After all, we have the same blood. We belong to a single family.
We are all Africans.
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