On May 9, the day after Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the Catholic Church’s next leader and took the name Pope Leo XIV, several American cardinals gathered at the Vatican to discuss their decision.
Catholic Extension Society was granted access to the press conference, and we are glad to share their quotes and sentiments. (Read all our coverage on the conclave and new pope, provided by our president, Father Jack Wall, here.)
Here are several takeaways:
The new pope is not a replacement of Francis
Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington:
“We’re looking for someone following the pathway of Francis. But we’re not looking for a photocopy. And I believe Pope Leo will not be a photocopy of Pope Francis. I do believe he’ll be just as genuine. He’ll have a different manner in expressing that and bringing the Gospel to the Church.”
Cardinal Cupich, Chancellor of Catholic Extension Society and Archbishop of Chicago:
“I think it’s important too, to remember that when we have the appointment of a bishop in the Church, we don’t talk about replacement, we talk about a successor. That’s a very important distinction to make. That is what we were looking for as well. Who could bring forward not only the ministry and life and tradition of Francis, but everything that preceded, especially that pivotal moment in the life of the Church, the Vatican Council. So we were looking for not a replacement, but a successor.”
Pope Leo XIV is a missionary, just as the first popes were
Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston:
“He’s really a citizen of the entire world since he has spent so much of his life and ministry and missionary work and zeal for Christ in South America. He was also privileged to be the head of his religious order. … He’s American, yes, and yes, he represents the big, big picture of the Church.”
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and former Archbishop of Washington:
“Cardinal Prevost, in his life, has been at his core, a missionary in every way. … And in a very real sense, we are in the city of the great missionaries of Christianity. Peter and Paul … they each became missionary at their core and came to this place of Rome and gave their lives. I believe that is what Cardinal Prevost, now Leo, is doing and is at the heart of who he is and who he’ll be in the life of the Church.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York
“He’s a citizen of the world. He reminds us that we all have our true citizenship in heaven as St. Paul taught us, and this is his role as a universal pastor. … So he’s a new person. He’s our Holy Father. He’s the successor of Peter, he’s the father of the Church Universal. Where he comes from: [that’s] secondary.”
Dialogue during the conclave
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark:
“We were not simply calling on the forces that were within that room. We were remembering that it’s the Holy Spirit who brings the Church to God, and it’s the Holy Spirit who makes reconciliation possible. … I took a look at Bob and, because his name had been floating around, and he had his head in his hands. And I was praying for him, because I couldn’t imagine what happens to a human being when they face something like that. And then when he accepted it, it was like he was made for it.”
Cardinal Cupich:
“Just imagine. We were over 130 people with different languages, cultures, backgrounds. And within 24 hours we were able to come to unity and make a decision. I hope that’s a signal to the world that we can reach across our differences in culture, language, country, nationality, and work together to solve the problems that are there.”
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States:
“You are together and you have to vote for the pope. And there is no method. The only method is the human method, to talk to one another, the dialogue, to listen to one another.”
All of the cardinals reiterated the immense joy, energy and enthusiasm of the crowd the day before. They are eager to see what their elected new leader, Pope Leo XIV, will accomplish in his new global mission.
“I think it’s instructive that Pope Leo began his message to people in the square by offering them the peace of Christ,” said Cardinal Cupich.
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