Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea

A Vatican veteran, Cardinal Sarah would fit the bill for those looking for the Catholic Churchs first black pope. The low-key 67-year-old from Guinea is currently in charge of the Vatican office, Cor Unum, which oversees Catholic charities around the world and has extensive experience in other Vatican offices, all of which gives him insight into the developing world but with inside knowledge of how the Vatican works. An outspoken conservative for Catholic positions on abortion and homosexuality and gender, Cardinal Sarah has said that Africa, "must protect itself from the contamination of intellectual cynicism in the West."

Photo caption: Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea greets visitors during the traditional courtesy visit after the consistory, November 20, 2010, at the Vatican.

Credit: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images