[Source/Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] "I want to be the Pope," said US President Trump on April 29 when leaving the White House for a rally in Michigan to celebrate his first 100 days in office.
According to reports from Politico and The Times, when asked by reporters who should become the new Pope, Trump jokingly said he would be his own choice to lead the next Catholic leader.
"I have no preference," he added: "I must say we have a Cardinal from New York who is very excellent, so let's wait and see."
The report pointed out that the United States has never produced a Pope. As the President of the United States, billionaire, and having been married three times, the title of "Pope Trump" can only exist in his own imagination.
Trump referred to Cardinal Dolan from New York, who is one of the nine American Cardinals expected to attend the upcoming secret meeting at the Vatican. Although Dolan is one of the most prominent religious figures in America, people generally believe that his chance of succeeding Francis is extremely slim.
Experts on the Vatican, John Allen Jr., recently stated that Dolan might be "too Americanized" to be Pope. He told the New York Post that Dolan is seen as charming and articulate and certainly has the ability to stand alone on the global stage, but "he is not a hot candidate."
New York Cardinal Dolan Video screenshot
Last week (April 21), Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88.
According to tradition at the Vatican, after the death of the Pope, within two to three weeks, the College of Cardinals will hold a secret meeting to vote for the successor.
Currently, there are 252 members in the College of Cardinals, of which 135 are under 80 years old and therefore eligible to vote for the new Pope. This is the largest number of eligible voters in the history of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis previously appointed 108 eligible Cardinals, while the rest were selected by his predecessors, Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II. Among the 108 Cardinals appointed by Francis, 38% are from Europe, 19% from Latin America and the Caribbean, 19% from the Asia-Pacific region, 12% from Sub-Saharan Africa, 7% from North America, and 4% from the Middle East and North Africa. There are a total of 73 non-European Cardinals.
In theory, any baptized Catholic male is eligible to become Pope, but in the past 700 years, the Pope has always been chosen from among the Cardinals. Moreover, most Popes have been of European origin. Pope Francis, elected in 2013, was the first non-European leader of the Catholic Church since Pope Gregory III of Syria in the 8th century, and also the first Pope from the Americas.
A candidate needs to receive an absolute majority of two-thirds of the votes from the College of Cardinals to be elected. If no one receives an absolute majority in the first three rounds of voting, candidates can be elected with a simple majority thereafter. In the 2013 election, Francis was not considered a leading candidate for the papacy, but he was finally elected after five rounds of voting over a period of 24 hours.
The entire election process is conducted in strict secrecy to ensure it is free from external interference. The results of each round of voting can be known to the outside world through the characteristic smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel: black smoke indicates no result yet, while white smoke signifies the election of a new Pope.
White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney when Francis was elected in 2013. Video screenshot
The newly elected Pope must formally accept this position in front of the College of Cardinals, usually appearing on the balcony above St. Peter's Square within an hour after the election.
The longest secret conclave in history lasted two years and nine months, starting in 1268, but modern conclaves are much faster; since the early 20th century, they have averaged three days.
Both Pope Francis and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, were elected within two days.
Reuters and other media reported that potential candidates for the papacy include: Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See and the second most important figure after Pope Francis since 2013; Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem Latin Rite Diocese; Jean-Marc Aveline from France; Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops from Malta; Juan Jose Omella, Cardinal from Spain; Matteo Maria Zuppi, one of Francis' main allies in the Vatican from Italy; and Cardinal Luis Tagle from the Philippines, among others.
On local time April 26, the funeral of Pope Francis was held in St. Peter's Square.
The Times pointed out that Trump's brief visit to the Vatican attracted attention. During the funeral, he met leaders from various countries and talked with Ukrainian President Zelenskyky at St. Peter's Basilica. Trump joked afterward that this church was "the most beautiful office I've ever seen."
The report noted that Trump's attire on that day drew criticism. While other dignitaries and First Lady Melania Trump wore black clothing, the President insisted on wearing his usual navy blue suit, blue tie, and an American flag lapel pin.
On April 26, 2025, Vatican City, the funeral of Pope Francis was held in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania attended. IC Photo
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