A Chicago-born Cardinal is the sole U.S. contender for the next leader of the Catholic Church, following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21.
Cardinal Robert Prevost is among the high-ranking Catholic leaders considered a frontrunner for the papacy, according to the Associated Press (AP).
If elected, Prevost, 69, would become the first U.S. pope in history, according to the Associated Press.
He has forged an impressive legacy within the Church, serving as a missionary and archbishop in Peru. He currently holds the title of prefect for the Vatican’s bishop dicastery, which advises the pope on the appointment of bishops.
Prevost reportedly maintained a close relationship with the late Pope Francis, who appointed him as leader of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014 and later to his current role in the Vatican.
Still, several factors may work against his candidacy—namely, his relatively young age compared to other papal prospects and, perhaps more significantly, his American nationality.
The idea of a U.S. pope is considered taboo in Vatican circles due to America’s significant geopolitical influence, the AP reports.
In addition to Prevost, two other Catholic leaders with Chicago ties will participate in the sacred and secretive conclave to elect the next pope: Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and Chicago-born Cardinal Wilton Gregory.