Could the next pope be black?

Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana)

Cardinal Francis Arinze (Nigeria)

Ghanaian and Nigerian Cardinals are both possible replacements for the Pontiff!

Following the shock announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will stand down later this month, speculation is rife over who the next Pontiff will be.

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (left), of Ghana, is the bookies' favourite for the job of pope while Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze (right) is seen as an outside contender for the job. Three popes have hailed from Africa, but all were from Roman Africa and there is debate over whether they were white or Arab in appearance. They were Pope Victor I from 189 to 199, Pope Miltiades from 311 until 314, and Pope Galasius, pope from 492 until 496.

Other sources suggest that the next leader could be from even further afield and they suggest he could be a Latin American where there are 1.2billion Catholics - 42 per cent of the world's Catholic population.

Italian-Argentine Leonardo Sandri

TOP TEN CANDIDATES FOR THE JOB

9/4 Cardinal Peter Turkson, 64
Country: Ghana
Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Would like to see a black pope. Believes condoms should be used in marriage if one partner is infected with Aids.

5/2 Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 68
Country: Canada
Elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Belief that abortion is unjustifiable, even in cases of rape.

7/2 Cardinal Francis Arinze, 80
Country: Nigeria
Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Extreme conservatism on birth control and abortion

7/1 Cardinal Angelo Scola, 71
Country: Italy
Elevated to become Archbishop of Milan by Benedict XVI
Significant views: Wants to work more closely with Islam and support Christians in the Middle East

10/1 Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga, 70
Country: Honduras
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: A moderate but is anti-abortion and criticised Ricky Martin for using a surrogate mother

12/1 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 78
Country: Italy
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Blamed homosexual infiltration of the clergy for Catholic child sex scandals

14/1 Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 70
Country: Italy
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI
Significant views: Strongly against abortion and expressed anger towards same-sex unions

16/1 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 77
Country: Argentina
Elevated to cardinalate by John Paul II
Significant views: Against abortion and euthanasia, is against same-sex marriage but calls for respect of gay people. Washed the feet of 12 Aids patients in 2001.

20/1 Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69
Country: Argentina
Elevated to cardinalate by Benedict XVI
Significant views: Said Christians in Iraq under Saddam Hussein were more free than they are now

25/1 Cardinal Christoph von Schonborn, 68
Country: Austria
Elevated to cardinalate by John Paul II
Significant views: Said use of a condom by an Aids sufferer could be seen as a 'lesser evil'.