The 5 U.S. cardinals who could surprise the world in the next conclave
Ten of the cardinals that will vote on who will be the next pope hail from the US. Some of them are rumored to be in the running to take the top job.
Beginning on Wednesday 7 May 2025, Catholic cardinals from around the world will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave to elect a new Bishop of Rome. Only those that are under the age of 80 will be allowed to vote on who will become the next pope.
Of the 135 cardinals that can cast a ballot, ten are from the United States. While it is unlikely that any of them will be chosen to be the next pope, some are considered potential candidates to take the top job at the Vatican. Here’s a look.
US cardinals who could surprise the world in the next conclave
The ten cardinals that could be in the running to become the next pope range in age from 69 to 77. Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology at Villanova University and leading Vatican expert told RNS that due to the declining influence of the US on the world stage, “an American pope is less impossible than one might think.”
You may also be interested in: How to watch the conclave from the U.S.?
Typically the Catholic Church tries to keep itself separate from economic and political hegemons. While they are longshot candidates, a couple of the American cardinals have been rumored to be potential pope material.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, who was born in Chicago, is currently the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the department that advises the pope on bishop appointments. He was brought to Rome by Pope Francis in 2023 after running the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru for nine years, a position the late pontiff also appointed him too. He is considered a moderate and has emphasized inclusivity in the Catholic Church like Pope Francis.
Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, 72, the Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, since 2017, was previously the Archbishop of Indianapolis starting in 2012. Pope Benedict, in 2010, tapped him to be the second-highest-ranking official at the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Vatican department overseeing religious orders.
Tobin is one of the most progressive voices in the Church, emphasizing inclusivity of marginalized groups including LGBTQ individuals. He has also been a vocal critic of harsh immigration policies.
The Archbishop of New York City, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, 75, has also been mentioned as potential pope material. However, his chances are most likely much slimmer after Trump endorsed him for the job. The two reportedly have a particularly chummy relationship.
The following are other US cardinals that will be participating in the conclave:
- Raymond Leo Burke, 76 – Former Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri; currently based in Rome
- Blase Joseph Cupich, 76 – Archbishop of Chicago, Illinois
- Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, 75 – Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Texas
- Kevin Joseph Farrell, 77 – Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, currently based in Rome
- Wilton Daniel Gregory, 77 – Archbishop of Washington, DC
- James Michael Harvey, 75 – Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Robert Walter McElroy, 71 –Bishop of San Diego, California
There will also be another seven cardinals attending the conclave that are too old to vote. However, in the run-up to the 135 cardinals being locked in the Sistine Chapel, they will try to sway opinions on what direction they want to see Vatican go in the future.
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