For much of Church history, conclaves were entirely European and Italian-dominated. Before Pope Francis’s groundbreaking election and until the latter part of the 20th century, the notion of a non-European pope—let alone an American one—was seen as unthinkable.
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John McCloskey of New York broke the mold as the first American cardinal, created in 1875. Yet it took almost 60 years for American cardinals to become more involved in Vatican diplomacy and internal affairs. Today, among the 133 cardinal electors heading into the Sistine Chapel, 10 are from the United States. And while an American pope may still seem unlikely, several of them wield significant influence.
These 10 men represent a cross-section of American Catholic leadership, with six elevated by Pope Francis and four by Pope Benedict. Topping the list of influential voices is 76-year-old Cardinal Blase Cupich, current Archbishop of Chicago, elevated by Pope Francis in 2016. He’s a leading advocate of the late pope’s pastoral reforms, known for curbing traditional liturgy and pushing a progressive social agenda.
Also in the spotlight is 73-year-old Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, a Redemptorist with deep Vatican ties. Tobin is seen by some as a potential U.S. candidate for the papacy for his pastoral outreach and defense of migrants, but is also known for leading a pilgrimage of LGBTQ-identifying Catholics to Newark’s cathedral in 2017 and for a slow response around confronting the abuse crisis.
At the other end of the spectrum stands 76-year-old Cardinal Raymond Burke, a traditionalist and past vocal critic of Pope Francis, who has called on the faithful to pray a novena for the future of the Church. Though unlikely to gather enough support to be elected, Burke’s influence could shape which direction the conclave leans.
In the Curia, 69-year-old Augustinian Cardinal Robert Prevost, the Vatican’s bishop-making chief, was born in Chicago and served extensively in Peru. Meanwhile, 77-year-old Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a former Legionary from Ireland and the current Camerlengo, leads the College of Cardinals in practical matters and is now known around the world.
Another well-known voice is 75-year-old Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. Once considered papabile in 2013, Dolan is now viewed more as a statesman rather than a candidate, but his presence could rally moderate voices.
Seventy-one-year-old Cardinal Robert McElroy, a native of San Francisco, is the newly appointed Archbishop of Washington, D.C., and a vocal advocate for women’s roles in the Church. However, his progressive push may be too radical for many voters.
The now retired 77-year-old Cardinal Wilton Gregory made history as the first African-American cardinal. Born in Chicago and the former head of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, Gregory is not a contender but could serve as a swing vote between camps.
Two veteran voices will also be in the room: 75-year-old Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, born in Steubenville, Ohio, and the longest-serving American elector, and Cardinal James Harvey, also 75, a longtime Vatican diplomat who served in his home diocese of Milwaukee but joined the Vatican Diplomatic Corps early in his career.
American cardinals now shape key Vatican offices, from the Dicastery for Bishops to the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life. But many in the College of Cardinals remain hesitant to elect a pope from the world’s most powerful nation, fearing perceptions of global dominance.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
