Soul of Florence
Lysa Allman-Baldwin relaxing after lunch at Oltrarno Caffe Moharicho; (c) Soul Of America
When investigating the presence and influence of the African Diaspora in Florence, I began looking for the obvious — communities, restaurants, shops, historic sites, and the like.
And while I did find many of these entities scattered about, and although they are not overwhelmingly apparent to all, as in the U.S. and Caribbean Islands, there is much more to the story of what influence these African Descendants had throughout history.
History reveals that in fact, several Africans reigned as pope in Italy even as far back as 189 AD, including Pope St. Victor from 189-203 AD; Pope St. Miltiades (or St. Melchiades) from 311-314 AD, and Pope Saint Gelasius from 492-496 AD.
Saint Moses the Black, born about 330 A.D, was chosen for the priesthood by the Catholic Church.
Born in Northern Africa (modern day Algeria) in 354 AD, Saint Augustine is recognized by some as a saint who lived an austere life, performing great acts of mortification and penance, and his psychology and his embryonic theology still maintain relevance for the Catholic church today.
In 1578, Saint Benedict the Black — a Sicilian-born African — rose to prominence as the leader of the Franciscan friary in Palermo.
Pope John Paul II issued a decree declaring Haitian-born slave Pierre Toussaint the United States’ first Black Saint in 1996.
St. Peter Claver, the Patron of African-Americans and slaves, was canonized (found worthy to have your name placed in the canon of saints of the Church) by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, for his spiritual and physical ministerial work in Spain and America.
In 1897, African-born Antonio Vieira was canonized on the 200th anniversary of his death, in recognition of his efforts to abolish discrimination against Jewish merchants, to abolish slavery, and to alleviate conditions among the poor in Brazil.
A surprising public African sculpture in Florence; (c) Helga Vockenhber/Visit Florence
African women held their own within the high ranks of the Catholic Church in Italy as well. Saint Monica, born in the early 300s AD in Northern Africa, is recognized for her persistence and patience in converting and spiritually supporting her family and community through Catholicism.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II beatified Sister Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese born woman who was sold into slavery, transported to Italy in the late 1800’s, and in her day made such an impact on her community and the church through her Catholic faith, that upon her death in 1947, she lay in state for three days.
Several years later, she was canonized in Rome as well.
This list of influential Africans within the Catholic Church in Italy is endless. Yet these individuals aptly demonstrate that the influence of African descendants, regardless of their upbringing or religious affiliation, can be found.
They have a profound influence on almost every part of the world.