Is it time for the first African pope?

Two popular African Catholic cardinals — one from Ghana, the other from Nigeria — are among the frontrunners to replace Pope Benedict XVI.

Bookies put odds on just about everything, so it's no surprise that they're already sizing up the chances of potential successors to Pope Benedict XVI, who this week became the first pontiff in six centuries to announce his resignation. The process of choosing the next pope probably won't be complete until the end of March, or later, but for the first time the favorites appear to be leaders from outside Europe. One, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, is from Canada. The others are from Africa — Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria. Is now the time for the Catholic Church to pick its first black pope?

Church leaders in Africa appear split on how likely that is to happen. It would be "quite some miracle," according to Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, archbishop of Cape Coast in Ghana. "If the Church chooses a Third World person or a black pope it will have to come to terms with itself," he said. "I am not saying the Church is racist, but there are overtones and perceptions that maybe add up to that."

Others are giving better odds. Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, said recently that he wouldn't be surprised to see an African pope in his lifetime, possibly soon. "The fact that the Gospel is to be preached to all peoples, languages, and races means that the highest leadership of the church should be open to anyone from any race, language, and nation," he said.