Could there be an American pope? Here are the US cardinals who could replace the pontiff
Following the death of Pope Francis, the eyes of the world will turn to Rome, where a papal conclave will decide who will become the next pontiff - but could the world see its first American pope this election?
The simple answer is unlikely, but it's not impossible.
This enormous decision will be made by cardinals from all over the world. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, 138 are currently eligible to elect the new pope. Though the American Catholic Church is one of the biggest and richest in the world, there has never been an American-born pope. The idea of an American pope has often been dismissed, given the geopolitical influence America already has across the globe.
There are currently nine U.S. cardinals that are expected to take place in the 2025 conclave, according to the list of cardinal electors.
They are: Cardinal Robert Prevost, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley and Cardinal Raymond Burke.
With nine U.S. cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave out of 138, the mathematical possibility of the next pope being American is around 6.5 percent. Bookmakers odds are also unfavorable.
According to Online Betting Guide, none of the Americans are considered favorites. According to William Hill, Luis Antonio Tagle and Pietro Parolin are currently front-runners to succeed Francis with 7/4 odds followed by Cardinal Peter Erdo at 8/1.
However, as fans of the Academy Award-winning movie Conclave know, the process of selecting a new pope is political – and anything could happen. Even so, John Allen Jr., a Vatican expert and author of 'All the Pope's Men: The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks' told The New York Post, that the prospect of an American pope is slim.
Appointed Archbishop of New York in 2009, Dolan is one of the most recognizable figures in the U.S. Catholic church – known for his charisma and media savvy. However, one of the main issues, according to Allen, is that Dolan may simply be 'too American.'
'He's seen as charismatic, articulate, and someone certainly capable of holding his own on the global stage, having served as the chief shepherd of the media capital of the universe,' Allen told The Post. 'Nonetheless, I suspect you'd have to rate Dolan as a long shot, not a favorite.'
Americans, often seen at the forefront of global culture clashes and with stereotypically brash attitudes, would need to demonstrate other skills such as experience abroad and capacity with languages to take on the role.
Illinois-born Prevost may fit this criteria, with extensive experience in Peru as both a missionary and then an archbishop. He is currently prefect of the Vatican's dicastery for bishops, which handles various administrative and pastoral responsibilities of the Holy See, including the vetting nominations for bishops around the world.
At the age of 69, Prevost is younger than many of the other cardinals, which may count against him being selected if others do not wish to risk having another lengthy tenure.
Burke, who was born in Wisconsin, has already been touted by some as a possible successor to the pontiff, having participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.
Regarded by critics as an outspoken traditionalist he was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
Burke publicly clashed with Francis's more liberal philosophies, particularly regarding his willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. He has also called the church's new language around artificial contraception, civil marriages and gay people 'objectionable'.
He previously said that Catholic politicians who support legalized abortion, such as former president Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
36 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Ballet Nights to make Scottish premiere in Glasgow this July
Ballet Nights will arrive at Glasgow's Theatre Royal on July 4, bringing a programme of classical ballet, contemporary dance, and live music performed by internationally acclaimed artists. The show has previously been performed on stages across the globe, including London, Brisbane, and Kuala Lumpur. Read more: Glasgow workshop aims to inspire potential community organisers Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, founder and artistic director of Ballet Nights and a former soloist with Scottish Ballet, will compère the evening. He said: "Glasgow holds a very special place in my heart and my creative soul. "In bringing my show concept to my old home, Ballet Nights offers me and many fellow returning Scottish Ballet stars the chance to reconnect with the audiences that made us. "I'm equally excited to showcase the global acts we've been growing the show with in London, alongside rarely seen Scottish voices—bringing our unique blend of artistry and innovation to Glasgow, and celebrating the magic of dance with audiences old and new." The line-up includes Scottish Ballet alumni such as Sophie Martin, Eve Mutso, and Constance Devernay-Laurence, as well as Royal Ballet principal Steven McRae and Birmingham Royal Ballet's former principal Tyrone Singleton. Glasgow-born dancer Andrew Cummings will also perform. Dancers Steven McRae and Constance Devernay-Laurence will perform at the event (Image: Mich Rose (L) and Deborah Jaffe (R)) The show will feature the world premiere of I Married Myself, performed by Constance Devernay-Laurence and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon OBE. Other highlights include Death of The Bachelors, choreographed and performed by BLACBRIK, and Elite Syncopations, featuring Constance Devernay-Laurence, Kevin Poeung, and Tyrone Singleton. Tickets for the Glasgow show are available to be purchased at Following the performance, Ballet Nights will host a day of masterclasses for young students on July 5 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Wallace Studios, led by Steven McRae. Read more: Portaloo transformed into mini-cinema puts spotlight on hidden health issue Megan Peasgood, course leader and ballet tutor at the Dance School of Scotland, said: "The Glasgow Ballet Nights Masterclasses are an exciting opportunity for the young aspiring dancers of Scotland to learn and develop their skills with prestigious industry professionals and Ballet Nights stars. "The day will provide a versatile mix of dance and coaching to inspire the students alongside their everyday dancing." The masterclasses are open to students in three age groups: junior (9–11), mids (12–14), and senior (15–16).
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Bannon prods Trump to cut off Musk: 'He crossed the Rubicon'
Bannon has stoked the tension, which began when Musk, a former special government employee who led Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, called on senators to reject Trump's tax cut bill. The two have traded barbs ever since, with Musk suggesting that Trump be impeached and Trump lamenting to reporters on June 5 that he did not know if he and his former pal would be able to repair their relationship. Bannon tightens the screws on Musk In print, radio and podcast interviews, Bannon has piled on Musk. He called on Trump to end the SpaceX and Tesla founder's government contracts. He's also prodded Trump to investigate alleged drug use by the South African-born businessman, as well as his immigration status. "He crossed the Rubicon. It's one thing to make comments about spending on the bill. There's another thing about what he did," Bannon said on NPR's "Morning Edition" program. "You can't come out and say kill the president's most important legislative occurrence of this first term." Musk's claim that Trump is mentioned in undisclosed classified files related to the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Musk's affirmative response to a social media post pushing for Trump to be replaced by Vice President JD Vance were too far, Bannon said on NPR, a public broadcasting organization the White House is trying to defund. "It has crossed the line," Bannon said of Musk. "There's no going back." Bannon said in a June 6 podcast he does not consider Musk's ouster a personal victory. "I don't ever look at things like that at all. Right now, it's a national security issue," Bannon said on the UnHerd with Freddie Sayers podcast. He went on to accuse Musk of abusing his position inside the government to try gain access to government secrets to boost his business. DOGE did not deliver on the $1 trillion in savings Musk promised, he said of the government spending-slashing effort. "Where's the money? What was DOGE really doing?" Bannon asked. "We want to make sure DOGE and Elon Musk didn't take any of the data sets for his personal use for his artificial intelligence, which is driving all of his businesses." A clash that was months in the making Bannon's own distaste for Musk dates back to a dispute over temporary visas for highly skilled immigrant laborers. Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump initially tapped to co-lead DOGE, pushed for an expansion of the program as way to attract global talent, irritating immigration hawks in the conservative movement. "We're not going to be some anarcho-libertarian (state) run by Big Tech oligarchs -- that's not going to happen," Bannon said on his War Room podcast in December. Bannon told Politico in a June 5 interview that, after the split with Trump, the MAGA movement is now done with Musk. "I think MAGA is now seeing exactly what he was," Bannon said. "I'm just saying, 'Hey, told you -- knew this was gonna happen, folks. Not a hard one.'"
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trump takes big step to make flying cars a reality
"This year, flying cars are not just for the Jetsons. They are also for the American people in the near term," Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told reporters. Trump in an executive order directed the Federal Aviation Administration to expedite approval for routine commercial drone operations that retailers such as Amazon have said are crucial to expanding airborne deliveries. Orders that Trump signed will also allow manufacturers to begin testing flying cars and removed regulatory barriers his administration says are preventing supersonic over land passenger flights from being introduced in the United States. The changes will also allow drones to be used to be used in emergency response situations, including responding to wildfires, and long-distance cargo and medical delivery, the administration says. Trump's order establishes a pilot program for electrical vertical take-off and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, a type of flying car, that his administration hopes will lead to public private partnerships across the country. It is based on a 2017 program from the first Trump administration and will apply to emergency medical services, air taxis and cargo deliveries among other areas. The administration says the program will allow companies that are already conducting this type of testing, such as Joby's air taxi service, to partner with state, local and tribal governments. The California-based company plans to begin flight testing in Dubai within months and aims to launch passenger services on the aircraft in late 2025 or early 2026. Flying cars are coming! Here's how they could change the way you travel. Another order instructs the FAA to establish a standard for noise certification and lift a ban on overland supersonic flight. Kratsios said that advances in aerospace engineering and noise reduction have made over land supersonic flight safe, sustainable and commercially viable but federal regulations have grounded the speedy passenger flights and weakened U.S. companies' competitiveness. "The reality is that Americans should be able to fly from New York to LA in under four hours," Kratsios said. Trump separately established a federal task force to review and propose solutions to threats to America's airspace from personal unmanned aircraft and directed his administration to step up enforcement of civil and criminal laws against drone operators who endanger the public or violate airspace restrictions. The directives were issued with the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon.
