New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan is among the top church officials up for consideration to replace the late Pope Francis.
While any man baptized in the Catholic Church can technically become pope, the next pontiff is typically chosen by and from the College of Cardinals, which includes Dolan, also the archbishop of New York.
Though the conclave of cardinals set to deliberate on a successor has not yet gathered, at least some cardinals have already discussed Francis’s potential successor and likely have top contenders in mind.
Francis died Monday at 88, and while cardinals over the age of 80 cannot vote on his successor, they can become pope.
Who is Cardinal Dolan?
Dolan is one of the most recognizable Catholic figures in the US and known for his charisma, conservative principles and staunch support of the Catholic church’s teachings.
The 75-year-old cardinal, who was born in Saint Louis, Mo., was appointed archbishop in 2009 and made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
He also served as president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2010 to 2013.
Dolan is recognized for his unwavering defense of the Catholic doctrine and is regularly in national media promoting the church, including in The Post.
In an official statement on Pope Francis’s passing, Dolan said he was “honored” to have been part of the conclave that elected Francis in 2013 and to have welcomed him to the Big Apple for a visit in 2015.
Can an American be pope?
Since Dolan is a cardinal — and only cardinals have been chosen to be pontiff since 1378 — there is always the possibility that he could become the first American to hold the position.
But his chances appear to be slim, at least partly because the conclave tends to avoid electing popes from global superpowers.
Several other American cardinals potentially in the running include Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, the now-retired archbishop of Boston, and Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, the retired archbishop of St. Louis, Mo.
But it’s still unlikely that an American will ascend to the helm of the Church, said John Thavis, a papal expert and author of “The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church” to The Post.
There are currently eight cardinals, including Dolan, in the American Catholic Church who are expected to participate in the 2025 papal conclave.
What are the chances of Cardinal Dolan becoming pope?
Even though Dolan stands as likely the best-known Catholic among Americans, he is unlikely to become pope.
He could be seen as “too American,” said John L. Allen Jr., a Vatican expert and author of “All the Pope’s Men: The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks.”
“He’s seen as charismatic, articulate and someone certainly capable of holding his own on the global stage, having served as the chief shepherd of the media capital of the universe,” Allen said. “Nonetheless, I suspect you’d have to rate Dolan as a longshot, not a favorite.”
For an American to be considered, he’d have to be the “right” kind of American, Allen said.
“Someone with significant experience abroad, a capacity with languages and the perception of being humble and open rather than playing to stereotypes of American arrogance.”
But Dolan will still likely play an important role in influencing the decision, experts said.
Who are the main contenders to become pope?
The next pontiff could come from a host of nations, from those in Africa to Italy or Sri Lanka.
Some of the top candidates, ranked by Italian Vatican watcher Gaetano Masciullo and Vaticanists Edward Pentin and Diane Montagna of the College of Cardinals Report website, range from an advocate of “neo-modernist” theological positions to more conservative leaders.
The top contenders include: Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of France and Cardinal Malcoln Ranjith of Sri Lanka.
When will we know who the next pope is?
While it took two weeks for Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires — and future Pope Francis — to be elected, the upcoming transition will likely not take as long.
The conclave will be anxious to give its faithful swift new leadership — and also likes positive media attention on the Church, experts said.
Pope Francis’ death set in motion a centuries-old procedure to elect a new pontiff that will eventually lead to the conclave, or meeting for cardinals to vote for the next pope.
The conclave must start in the 15 to 20 days after Pope Francis’s death.