1 month ago
7
(NewsNation) — Two American cardinals pushed backmost connected the thought that the conclave selected Cardinal Robert Prevost — present Pope Leo XIV — arsenic a counterweight to President Donald Trump.
Cardinals Timothy Dolan and Wilton Daniel Gregory, among others, addressed questions Friday astir Leo's way to becoming pontiff.
When asked whether the enactment of the first American pope was a reflection of cardinals' tendency to equilibrium retired Trump's planetary influence, Gregory said: "I didn’t consciousness successful the conversations that I had with the different cardinals of the satellite that the conclave was seen arsenic a continuation of the American governmental election."
While helium acknowledged the cardinals were alert of statements and governmental actions retired of the United States, Gregory said helium felt the electing members were chiefly acrophobic with "who among america tin bring america together.”
"It wasn’t an predetermination conclave, it was a tendency to fortify the Christian faith among God’s people,” helium said.
Pope Leo XIV appears connected the cardinal loggia of St. Peter's Basilica aft being chosen arsenic the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church astatine the Vatican connected May 8. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Faithful respond aft the announcement of the recently elected Pope Leo XIV astatine the Vatican connected May 8. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Cardinals be a last Mass astatine St. Peter's Basilica earlier the conclave to elite a caller pope May 7. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
White fume billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave to elite a caller pope May 8. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Nolan agreed, calling Leo a "bridge builder" who volition inevitably enactment unneurotic with myriad satellite leaders.
"Will helium privation to physique bridges to Donald Trump? I accidental that helium would privation to physique bridges with the person of every nation. So, I don’t deliberation — astatine each — my member cardinals would person thought of him arsenic a counterweight to immoderate 1 person," Nolan said.
Nolan added that a conversation with Trump apt wouldn't clasp immoderate much "heft" for Leo than the caput of immoderate different nation.
Leo has antecedently utilized societal media to propulsion backmost connected the Trump medication and its rhetoric astir immigration, the death penalty and gun laws, according to a reappraisal of his X posts by NewsNation spouse The Hill.
In a 2023 interrogation with the Vatican News Service, the then-cardinal called societal media "an important instrumentality to pass the Gospel connection reaching millions of people,” though helium acknowledged determination is sometimes "a hazard of fueling divisions and controversy."
