The United States is currently home to 10 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope, a notable figure that positions the country second only to Italy, which has 17 electors participating in the upcoming conclave slated for Wednesday, to select the successor to Pope Francis.
Among the American electors, only four actively serve as archbishops within the U.S.: Timothy Dolan of New York, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and Robert McElroy of Washington. Additionally, two of the electors are retired archbishops: Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Wilton Gregory of Washington. The remaining four cardinals have extensive experience in various Vatican roles: Robert Prevost, James Michael Harvey, Raymond Burke, and Kevin Farrell.
Raymond Burke: At 76, Burke is known as a staunch traditionalist who has often found himself in opposition to the more progressive Pope Francis. Born in Wisconsin, Burke served as a bishop before becoming the archbishop of St. Louis from 2004 to 2008. He was elevated to cardinal in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI and appointed as the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's high court. Following his dismissal from that role in 2014, he was made cardinal patron of the Knights of Malta, where further conflicts arose with Francis over governance issues. Burke has been vocal about Catholic politicians abstaining from Communion if they advocate for abortion rights.
Blase Cupich: Cupich, also 76, serves as the archbishop of Chicago and is noted for his close advisory relationship with Pope Francis. As a moderate, he attempts to balance conservative teachings on social matters with compassion for affected communities. Following his ordination in 1975 and various episcopal appointments, he was appointed archbishop of Chicago in 2014 by Francis and became a cardinal in 2016. Cupich took significant steps in addressing clergy sex abuse while advocating for reforms.
Daniel DiNardo: Retired this year at 75, DiNardo was previously the archbishop of Galveston-Houston, a diocese serving 1.7 million Catholics—ranked as the fifth largest in the U.S. He was ordained in Pittsburgh in 1977 and became a cardinal in 2007. DiNardo faced challenges during his presidency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2016 to 2019 amidst turbulent crises within the Church, embodying a balance of traditional teachings and support for migrants.
Timothy Dolan: At 75, Dolan has presided as the archbishop of New York since 2009. A conservative figure, he has been involved in various church organizations and served as the USCCB president. He was named a cardinal in 2012 and has received attention for his mixed messages on LGBTQ+ outreach, including a welcoming letter to a conference at Fordham University in 2023.
Kevin Farrell: Now 77, Farrell was appointed by Pope Francis as the camerlengo in 2019, which entails managing the Vatican after a pope's death and before a new election. Born in Dublin, Ireland, he became active in the Washington Archdiocese before moving to various leadership positions, culminating in his appointment as bishop of Dallas in 2007 and elevation to cardinal in 2022.
Wilton Gregory: Gregory, the first Black cardinal from the U.S., was appointed by Francis to lead the Archdiocese of Washington in 2019 and retired this year. He has advocated for social justice and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ Catholics while navigating the aftermath of clergy scandals that involved his predecessors.
James Michael Harvey: Born in Milwaukee, Harvey, 76, has a long history at the Vatican, initially as a diplomat and later managing the papal household. Appointed prefect of the Papal Household in 1998, he was elevated to cardinal in 2012.
Robert McElroy: Appointed archbishop of Washington in January, McElroy is recognized as one of Francis' progressive allies. He has criticized political actions he sees as against Catholic doctrine, especially concerning immigration, and has advocated for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church.
Robert Francis Prevost: At 69, Prevost is the prefect of the Vatican's dicastery for bishops and has significant experience in Peru. Francis brought Prevost to Rome for this influential role in 2023 after a successful career overseeing a diocese in Chiclayo, Peru.
Joseph Tobin: Tobin, 72, is the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey. A multilingual veteran of the Vatican bureaucracy, he has a history of advocating for refugees and a welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ individuals. He was made cardinal in 2016, following his appointment as archbishop of Newark.
Additionally, seven U.S. cardinals, aged 80 and older, are not eligible to vote in the conclave due to their age: Edwin O'Brien, Roger Mahony, Adam Maida, Seán Patrick O'Malley, Justin Rigali, James Francis Stafford, and Donald Wuerl.
