New Pope: America’s Robert Francis Prevost

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Meet the new pope.

Robert Francis Prevost, who hails from Chicago and is now known as Pope Leo XIV, has been chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church over two weeks following the demise of Pope Francis. He was declared the new pontiff on May 8th, a day after the College of Cardinals held a conclave for the purpose of selecting his successor, marking the first time an American will hold this position within the church.

As the newly elected pope was selected, a Vatican representative incinerated the vote-filled papers to produce smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, simultaneously triggering the pealing of bells at St Peter’s Basilica and drawing a throng below to celebrate. Later on, Pope Leo XIV emerged onto the balcony of the basilica to address the crowd.

As an overjoyed follower, I eagerly awaited the conclusion of the Novendiales, the nine days of solemn mourning that traditionally follow the passing of our beloved Pope. A grand total of 133 cardinals under the age of 80 were granted the honor to participate in the conclave, a clandestine election requiring a two-thirds majority plus one for a valid vote.

Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, Francis unfortunately passed away on April 11 following a stroke and heart failure. He was 88 years old.

His underlying health issues, including Type 2 diabetes, bronchiectasis, and hypertension, along with his recent struggle with respiratory failure and pneumonia (requiring a 38-day hospital stay and discharge on March 23), significantly contributed to his passing.

As a devoted admirer, I had the profound honor of witnessing the solemn farewell of the revered Pope Francis, the pioneering Latin American and Jesuit leader, on April 26th at St. Peter’s Basilica. Distinguished guests graced the occasion, including President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden alongside his remarkable wife Jill Biden, as well as Prince William who represented his esteemed father King Charles III – a notable figure who had an audience with Francis just last month.

On the day preceding his passing, the deceased held an Easter Sunday gathering at St. Peter’s Square to express his warm wishes to countless fans.

In 2013, Francis assumed leadership of the Catholic Church, as Pope Benedict XVI stepped down from his position due to health issues. Notably, Benedict was the first pope to retire since 1415; he passed away in 2022 at the age of 95.

Continue perusing to discover each cardinal who was a potential contender for Francis’ succession during the latest conclave…

cardinal Pietro Parolin has been serving as the pope francis’s deputy or second-in-command since the year 2014.

In his position, the 70-year-old Italian, a previous ambassador to Venezuela, managed internal church matters and steered official foreign policy. This made him extremely knowledgeable about the political landscape of the Roman Catholic Church, both within the Vatican and on a global scale.

However, the selection is not without a hint of controversy: Parolin has been connected to, but not indicted regarding, an investment in a London real estate project that ended unfavorably. This incident led to Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine others standing trial for financial misconduct at the Vatican in 2021. (Becciu, maintaining his innocence, was found guilty of fraud and embezzlement.)

As the Archbishop of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, aged 65, fostered a strong relationship with Pope Francis, serving as a member on his nine-person consultative body, known as the Council of Cardinals.

Should he be chosen as the next Pope, he would make history as the first pontiff hailing from sub-Saharan Africa. However, it’s important to note that his views lean towards traditionalism, having been critical of Pope Francis’ 2023 decision to permit blessings for same-sex unions.

Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines frequently joined Pope Francis on journeys across Asia, marking him as a potential candidate to become the first Asian pope in history. It is worth noting that Pope Francis was the first pontiff outside Europe since 741 A.D., implying that numerous milestones could be achieved during this conclave.

Often called “Chito” by his followers, the friendly 67-year-old is a champion for the underprivileged, aligning with Pope Francis’ values. Previously serving as archbishop of Manila, Tagle was appointed to Rome to lead the Vatican’s outreach office for missionary evangelization.

Previously, Tagle had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the papacy during the 2013 conclave; however, his age of 55 was seen as far too youthful.

Matteo Zuppi from Bologna, Italy, who strongly supports the idea that the church should primarily assist the needy, was appointed as a cardinal in 2019. There’s speculation that if such practices occurred, he might have been personally chosen by Francis to succeed him.

Ever since I became the Archbishop of Bologna in 2015, I’ve earned the nickname “Don Matteo,” a champion for immigrants and those facing the challenges of migration. I had the privilege of contributing the preface to the Italian version of Reverend James Martin’s 2017 book, “Building a Bridge.” This remarkable work offers insights on how our church can more effectively cater to members of the LGBTQ+ community, fostering understanding and acceptance within our faith.

He was part of a group representing the Sant’Egidio Community charity, which played a role in mediating the conclusion of Mozambique’s civil war during the 1990s. Later, Pope Francis appointed Zuppi as his special envoy for peace efforts, following Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

In the year 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Peter Erdo, who was then 50 years old from Hungary, as the youngest cardinal at that time. Notably, the current archbishop of Budapest is recognized for his advocacy with Hungary’s Jewish community and for connecting with Catholics in Latin America and Africa. However, compared to Pope Francis, Erdo holds more traditional conservative views deeply rooted within him.

At the age of 72, he has expressed his opposition towards the church welcoming migrants and offering communion to divorced Catholics. While Pope Francis did not explicitly permit this practice, he was willing to consider such instances on a case-by-case basis.

Reinhard Marx, the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, aged 71, served as a significant advisor to Pope Francis and presided over the Council for the Economy, established in 2014 to scrutinize Vatican finances as the church aimed to improve its spending practices. Marx remained on the council even after Pope Francis invited six women to join in 2020, making him one of just two original members still serving.

In 2021, Marx expressed his intent to step down as archbishop to express remorse for the German church’s mishandling of sexual abuse allegations – a controversy that has caused significant turmoil within Catholicism globally. However, Francis chose not to accept his resignation and instead urged him to continue his service.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet from Canada, designated by Pope Benedict XVI, managed the office responsible for selecting diocese leaders globally until 2023. Since 2019, this office has been conducting investigations into bishops alleged to have concealed misconduct by predatory priests worldwide. Consequently, Ouellet has reviewed a substantial number of documents regarding numerous church officials.

As a devoted supporter of Francis, Ouellet, I too advocate for an expanded role for women within our faith community. However, much like Francis himself, I stand opposed to the idea of their ordination as priests.

Born in Chicago, Cardinal Robert Prevost stands poised to create history as the first American Pope. Having served nine years at the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, he was summoned by Francis to Rome in 2023 to lead the global office that scrutinizes bishop appointments. At 69 years old, Prevost additionally holds the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a role that strengthens the church’s bond with a region where nearly 40% of the world’s Catholics dwell.

Christoph Schöenborn, who held the position of Archbishop of Vienna from September 1995 until January 22, 2025, has expressed his approval for civil unions and female deacons, and, being someone whose parents divorced during his teenage years, he backed Pope Francis’ efforts towards Catholics who have undergone divorce and remarriage in a civil union.

In 2010, an 80-year-old individual criticized the Vatican for not punishing high-ranking officials who were accused of sexual abuse in the past. This included his predecessor in Vienna, Hans Hermann Groër, who died in 2003 without being charged. Schöenborn specifically accused Cardinal Angelo Sodano (who passed away in 2022) of organizing a cover-up to shield Groër and downplaying the entire matter by labeling clerical abuse allegations as trivial rumors.

During Benedict XVI’s tenure as head, the Vatican reprimanded Schöenborn for making such assertions, emphasizing that it is solely within the power of the Pope to bring charges of this nature against a cardinal.

Anders Arborelius, aged 75, embraced Catholicism at the age of 20, and in 2017, he made history as Sweden’s inaugural Catholic cardinal. Originally a predominantly Lutheran nation, Sweden has since transitioned towards a more secular identity.

A previous member of the Carmelite order recently emphasized the importance of unity, expressing his concern about potential divisions within the church when he stated in an interview (as reported by the New York Times), “It’s important to be cautious as there are areas in the church where people might start forming factions over different matters. We must strive for unity, not fragmentation, within the Catholic Church.

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2025-05-08 20:47