The College of Cardinals includes 17 members from the United States. But only 10 of those are cardinal electors, meaning that they are allowed to participate in the conclave and vote for the next pope. The other seven are older than 80, the cutoff to be an elector.
Six of the 10 cardinals were elevated to the position by Pope Francis and are largely known as vocal supporters of his priorities, particularly on immigration, the environment and poverty. This will be their first conclave:
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, 76. Born in Nebraska, he was a bishop in South Dakota and an archbishop in Spokane, Wash. His appointment to Chicago in 2014 was one of Pope Francis’ early moves to reshape U.S. church leadership, particularly to show support for immigrants. Cardinal Cupich’s archdiocese covers about two million Catholics in Cook and Lake Counties.
Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington, 71. The former bishop of San Diego is known for regularly speaking out on behalf of migrants, women and L.G.B.T.Q. people in the church and the United States. He has said that the Trump administration’s plans for a “wider, indiscriminate, massive deportation across the country” would be “incompatible with Catholic doctrine.”
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, 73. Before coming to Newark, he led the archdiocese of Indianapolis (where he bench-pressed 225 pounds at the gym). As a young priest, he ministered to people with AIDS in Chicago. He has said that he does not see “a compelling theological reason why the pope couldn’t name a woman cardinal.”
Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, 77. The first African-American cardinal, he was president of the United States Catholic bishops’ conference in 2002 and pushed to pass the Dallas Charter, which instituted a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse of minors. Later the archbishop of Atlanta, he supported L.G.B.T. Catholics and commissioned an action plan after Francis’ encyclical on the environment.
Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, 77. The Irish-American was formerly bishop of Dallas. Pope Francis made him the camerlengo, or chamberlain, the Vatican’s acting administrator when a pope dies or resigns. He was responsible for verifying Pope Francis’ death.
Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, 69. A Chicago-born priest, he advised the pope on bishop appointments around the world. He is also a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, a religious order of men and women who follow the teachings of the fourth-century saint. Cardinal Prevost is also seen by some as a contender for pope, though a long shot. (There has never been an American pontiff.)
Four other cardinals were elevated by Pope Benedict XVI. They also participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis:
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, 75. He led the archdiocese of 1.7 million Catholics for 19 years, until Pope Francis accepted his resignation in January. He spoke out against separating children from their parents at the border during President Trump’s first term, calling it “immoral.” He is also a former president of the United States Catholic bishops’ conference.
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, 75. The leader of New York’s 2.5 million Catholics since 2009, he was previously the archbishop of Milwaukee and rector of the Pontifical North American College, a seminary in Rome. He is a favorite of center-right Catholics on issues like abortion, and fought the Obama administration’s rule requiring some religious groups to provide contraception for employees. He led prayers at both of President Trump’s inaugurations.
Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, 75. Born in Milwaukee, he has spent decades in roles at the Vatican, including being in charge of the papal household under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The Basilica where he presides in Rome is where many believe St. Paul is buried.
Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, patron of the Order of Malta, 76. A canon law scholar, he has become a conservative celebrity, the de facto leader of the opposition to Pope Francis’ agenda and a traditionalist with an affinity for the Latin Mass. The pope had removed him from leadership positions. “I’m called the enemy of the pope, which I am not,” Cardinal Burke said in 2019.
www.nytimes.com
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