US Cardinals Discuss Election of First American Pope Leo XIV

Inside the Conclave

• 💡 Cardinal Robert Mccroy noted that it was how Cardinal Pos spoke, not just what he said, that significantly impacted the other cardinals during the conclave.
• 🎯 Cardinal Joseph Tobin initially did not have a short list of candidates, preferring to listen first and acknowledging he expected the consensus to take longer.
• 🔑 Cardinal Timothy Dolan stated that the cardinals were primarily concerned with finding a bridge builder, as the Latin word 'pontiff' implies, to bring the church together.

Pope Leo XIV's Background and Election

• 🇺🇸 Cardinal Mccroy expressed surprise at the minimal discussion within the conclave regarding the new pope's American birthplace, noting its absence as a key question.
• 🗣️ Pope Leo XIV began his first homily in perfect English, a detail that seemed foreign but significant to those from the United States.
• 💬 Cardinal Dolan clarified that while the new pope was not initially on his short list of 8-12 candidates, he was on 'the list' and considered towards the middle or end of potential choices.
• 🌍 Dolan also mentioned that the new pope has spent 90% of his life outside the United States, suggesting his background is more international than solely American.
• 🚀 Cardinal Tobin thanked the new pope for accepting the awesome responsibility of the papacy.

Cardinal Dolan's Perspective

• 📝 Cardinal Dolan admitted he had a short list going into the conclave, but the newly elected Pope Leo XIV was not on it initially.
• 🤔 He described the new pope as being towards the middle or end of the batting order on his initial list of potential candidates.
• 🤝 Dolan recounted cardinals approaching him, expecting him to know the new pope well due to his US origin, but noted they never identified him as an American cardinal specifically.
• 🌟 As the conclave progressed, it became crystal clear to Cardinal Dolan who the next pope would be.