What is the dark pope?
Jessica Wood
Updated on January 21, 2026
"Black Pope" is an unofficial designation given to the position of Superior General of the Order of the Jesuits. The name follows from his leadership of the largest Catholic, male religious order and from the colour of the plain black cassock worn by members of the Society, including the Superior General.
Who is considered the Black Pope?
Meeting last week in Rome, Jesuit delegates kept the tradition intact, elected the Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, 57, Spanish-born Jesuit provincial (area chief) of Japan, to be the order's 28th leader and the Roman Catholic Church's new "Black Pope."What is the black and white pope?
The Jesuit genreal is often nicknamed the 'Black Pope' because of his black vestments, as contrasted to the white vestments worn by the pontiff of the Catholic Church, Interestingly, both the pope and the 'Black Pope' are Latin Americans and have known each other for many years as Jesuits provincials, having attended ...Who is the Pope's wife?
However, the rule books when you become Pope are a little stricter. You have to learn multiple languages, attend confession, meet with heads of state, lead mass services, and remain celibate. This means the simple answer to this article's question is no, Popes do not marry.Why is the head of the Jesuits called the Black Pope?
Jesuit superior generals are known as “black popes” because, like the pontiff, they wield worldwide influence and usually keep their position for life -- and because their simple cassock is black, in contrast to the pope who dresses in white.Dark Secrets Of The Vatican Revealed
What do the Jesuits believe?
The Jesuits are an apostolic religious community called the Society of Jesus. They are grounded in love for Christ and animated by the spiritual vision of their founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, to help others and seek God in all things.Has there been an African pope?
Three early popes were from the Roman Africa Province. These were Pope Victor I (reigned c . 189 to 199), Pope Miltiades (reigned 311 to 314) and Pope Gelasius I (492 to 496); all three were North African men.Was there a female pope?
Pope Joan, legendary female pontiff who supposedly reigned, under the title of John VIII, for slightly more than 25 months, from 855 to 858, between the pontificates of St. Leo IV (847–855) and Benedict III (855–858).What is the annual salary of the Pope?
The pope will not be affected by the cuts, because he does not receive a salary. “As an absolute monarch, he has everything at his disposal and nothing at his disposal,” Mr. Muolo said. “He doesn't need an income, because he has everything that he needs.”Who is the leader of the Jesuit order?
Arturo Marcelino Sosa Abascal SJ (born 12 November 1948) is a Venezuelan Jesuit priest who is the 31st and present superior general of the Society of Jesus. He was elected Superior General by the Society's 36th General Congregation on 14 October 2016, succeeding Adolfo Nicolás.What does the word Jesuits mean?
Definition of Jesuit1 : a member of the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus founded by St. Ignatius Loyola in 1534 and devoted to missionary and educational work. 2 : one given to intrigue or equivocation.