Cardinal Dolan describes Pope XIV as 'citizen of the world,' will build bridges with Trump

Several salient U.S. Catholic bishops and cardinals recalled the spiritual process of electing Pope Leo XIV this week, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York hailing the caller pontiff arsenic a "citizen of the world" who volition question to physique bridges with President Donald Trump and different planetary leaders.

The six clergymen gave immoderate insights into however they spot the Pope Leo XIV papacy and said the speedy conclave showed unity among the cardinals. They were speaking astatine the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at the Pontifical North American College successful Rome connected Friday.

"It should not startle america that we would look to Pope Leo arsenic a span builder. That's what the Latin connection ‘pontiff’ means, he's a span builder," Dolan said aft being asked by a newsman if the pontiff would beryllium a "counterweight" to Trump. 

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the U.S., appears connected the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica astatine the Vatican connected Thursday. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

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"Will helium privation to physique bridges to Donald Trump? I suppose, but helium would privation to physique bridges with the person of each nation. So I don't deliberation astatine each my member Cardinals would person thought of him arsenic a counterweight to immoderate 1 person."

Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the archetypal American pope, and overmuch accent has been made of his Chicago roots, with speakers blasting songs including "Born successful the U.S.A." and "American Pie" arsenic the cardinal electors gathered connected stage. The signifier was besides decorated with Old Glory and a Vatican flag.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, conveyed his pridefulness that they elected an American pope, the archetypal successful history.

"[Pope XIV] is truly a national of the full world, since helium has spent truthful overmuch of his ministry missionary enactment and zeal for Christ successful South America successful beingness successful missionary enactment and zeal for work," DiNardo said. "Yes, he’s American and yes, helium represents the large representation of the church."

Dolan agreed, noting the caller pontiff is besides a national of Peru, having spent 3 decades determination arsenic a missionary.

"He's a national of the world. He reminds america that we each person our existent citizenship successful heaven. As St. Paul taught us, and that is his relation arsenic cosmopolitan pastor, wherever helium comes from is benignant of present a happening of the past," he said.

Several bishops likened Pope Leo XIV to a fusion of Popes Francis and Benedict, noting his blend of intelligence rigor and pastoral warmth portion highlighting his Augustinian inheritance and canon instrumentality expertise. 

From left: Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan and Cardinal Daniel Nicholas DiNardo be a property league of U.S. cardinals. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)

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His prime of the sanction "Leo" was seen arsenic significant, referencing some Pope Leo the Great and Leo XIII, signaling an intent to stress some beardown enactment and societal teaching.

DiNardo said that Leo the Great was pope successful the 5th period erstwhile the religion was "truly a mess" but helium managed to prevention the metropolis of Rome. 

"He preached Christ crucified, and helium preached him arsenic genuinely Son of God," DiNardo said. "I deliberation Pope Leo [XIV] is simply a wise, omniscient man, and helium picks up 1 whose sanction has aggregate figures from Leo the Great to Leo the 13th, each of whom tin talk to america some connected presumption of societal doctrine and successful presumption of doctrine of who Jesus is."

The clergymen are seen connected signifier astatine the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops astatine the Pontifical North American College successful Rome connected Friday. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)

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The bishops emphasized the spiritual, affectional and symbolic value of the conclave. They described it arsenic a profoundly prayerful and unifying experience. The U.S. had 10 voting cardinals successful the conclave, the second-highest fig of immoderate country.

Other speakers included: Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark; Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago; Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington; Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington; and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S.A.

Asked astir the reported simplicity of the meals the cardinals were served during the conclave, Dolan joked: "Let's conscionable accidental it was a good, good, bully impetus to get this implicit with."