U.S. Cardinals Deciding on the Next Pope: The Top 10 Contenders Following Italy

Rewritten Article:

United States Shines with 10 Cardinal Electors in the Pope Race

The United States is no stranger to influence, especially when it comes to the Catholic Church. Ten American cardinal electors areprimed to cast their votes for the church's next pope. This puts the U.S. in second place, just behind Italy's 17 eligible electors.

These ten cardinals are set to gather at the Vatican's iconic Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the papal conclave, following the departure of Pope Francis.

Of these 10, four cardinals serve as active archbishops in various U.S. dioceses:

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York: Known for being charismatic and capable of rallying moderates, yet less considered a potential pope (contrary to the past[2]).
Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago: Appointed by Pope Francis in 2016, Cupich is a staunch supporter of Francis's reforms[1][2].
Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey: Renowned for his pastoral outreach, particularly with immigrant communities. Also appointed by Pope Francis in 2016[1][2].
Archbishop Wilton Gregory (former Archbishop of Washington, D.C.): The first African-American cardinal appointed by Pope Francis in 2020. He retired in 2025 due to age limits[1].

The remaining six cardinals have had extensive Vatican careers:

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke: A traditionalist who clashed with the modern-leaning Pope Francis, Burke was stymied in his roles as the Vatican's high court leader and the Knights of Malta patron due to his differences with Francis[2].
Archbishop Kevin Farrell: Currently serving as prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life, as well as the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Appointed by Pope Francis in 2016, Farrell served as an auxiliary bishop in Washington and the Bishop of Dallas before taking on his current roles[1].
Cardinal Robert McElroy: The new Archbishop of Washington, D.C., appointed by Pope Francis to lead the church in the nation's capital as Trump's second term began. McElroy has been outspoken about issues like anti-immigration sentiments[2].
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost: Currently the prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops, having served extensive missions in Peru[2].
Cardinal James Michael Harvey: The archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Harvey served under both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and was appointed as a cardinal by the latter in 2012[1].
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo: Retired as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, once carrying considerable power within the U.S. episcopate[1].

The seven cardinals aged 80 or older are not eligible to participate in the conclave[4].

Sources:[1] Associated Press: American cardinals offer diverse perspectives ahead of pope race[2] The Washington Post: The surprise contenders for pope[3] Time: Who are the 115 cardinal electors in the upcoming papal conclave?[4] Reuters: Seven U.S. cardinals out of running for pope after reaching retirement age of 80

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Archbishop Timothy Dolan, serving in Seattle, might not be widely considered a potential pope like he once was.
Lower education levels in some archdioceses, opposed to the general-news focus on the papal race, could draw criticism from those supportive of the current Pope's reforms.
The archdiocese's stance on politics, notably pro-immigration, has seen Cardinal Robert McElroy, the new Archbishop of Seattle, become vocal about contentious issues.
Despite the Sistine Chapel's iconic status, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke found himself incompatible with the modern-leaning pope, leading to him being stymied in his Vatican roles.