New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, an ally of President Donald Trump, played the role of “kingmaker” in the selection of Pope Leo XIV, according to a Friday report.
The Italian magazine il Giornale got hold of some of the first reports of intrigue from the secretive conclave that selected Pope Leo XIV as the first ever American pope on Thursday. Dolan, a major conservative figure in the church and ally to Trump, reportedly wielded decisive influence in getting the new pope chosen.
Il Giornale, citing observers, said Dolan was decisive in rallying voters from North and South America, along with those in former territories of the British Empire — including India, South Africa, and Pacific possessions like Tonga. He argued that the now-pope would be the best fit for the missionary aim of the Catholic Church, while keeping his roots in the world’s largest superpower.
Dolan also allegedly argued that Leo XIV’s roots as a man of many cultures, coming from French, Italian, and Spanish origins, would help to unite the Church.
