A cardinal from New York, Timothy Dolan, played a crucial role in electing Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV.


According to
il Giornale

,
An Italian-language news outlet stated that the Chicago-native Prevost wasn’t originally considered the top choice to become the next Pope. The favored candidate mentioned was Pietro Parolin, an Italian cardinal, as per the report from the same source.

What changed? Dolan, the former archbishop of Milwaukee, WI.

According to
il Giornale,
The departing Dolan took on the role of “kingmaker.” As he garnered backing for the first American Pope, Dolan worked to secure support for Prevost among cardinals connected to the “former British Empire,” particularly focusing on those cardinals who speak English, according to the report.

Parolin had a group of supporters but not enough to reach a quorum, the site reported, and two other cardinals divided others. Meanwhile, Prevost was gathering support “in the shadows,” according to
il Giornale.

Following the initial ballot, Prevost started gaining backing from African and Asian cardinals, as reported on the website.

Dolan spoke about the new Pope to

CNN’s
Erin Burnett.

“Tiring. That’s an accurate description,” he remarked about his condition.

“We’ve been at it pretty full time for the last 2.5 weeks.”

Dolan said that “a lot of times all we get is bleak, somber news about the church.”

He said there’s an “explosion of hope and promise and unity” around Pope Leo. According to Dolan, people throughout the world viewing the white smoke surpassed the viewership of the World Cup.

“He mentioned you could sense it,” adding that they received numerous emails and phone calls from individuals showing their support.

He mentioned that he was aware of Prevost but initially considered him to be a “marginal” contender.

“I only really focused on him after attending the congregation meetings,” Dolan disclosed following the funeral of Pope Francis. He mentioned that people began questioning him aboutPrevost since he was born in the U.S.

He mentioned that although he wasn’t familiar with Prevost, his understanding of him was “quite impressive.”

At that juncture, he began to become more acquainted with Prevost.

Conclaves have been “usually two, maybe three days,” he said.

“There must have bene somewhat of a unity or agreement from when they went in,” he said of the cardinals.



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