Father Joseph Dyer is the sacramental minister at Christ the King, and also teaches religion at the school.
“Black people are not a monolith,” he said. “We can be quite different, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone in this congregation, or any predominantly black congregation, that would have had problems with Pope Francis.”
According to the Mississippi Catholic newspaper, Dyer was the first Black diocesan priest in Mississippi.
“I'm hoping that the spirit of the papacy of Francis continues,” he said. “You know, it was so open. Diversity, I guess, has become a bad word, but he wanted to make sure that the doors of the church were open to people, regardless of gender or sexuality, or location. He had a heart for migration, which is a worldwide challenge.”
The 133 cardinals voting in this year’s conclave represent a wider range of the world than in previous councils. Something that Father Dyer believes is represented in his church’s congregation and school.
“There are children in this school who are not only black but are also born of African parents,” he said. “There is one child who was born here but brought back to Africa to be baptized. I guess they don't trust the Jackson Water. Anyhow, so when we talk about diversity, even for a place as small as this, it is for real.”
