The Wall Street Journal claimed the first American Pope was being held back from leading the Catholic church by his US passport in the Trump era.
‘A US passport is a disadvantage, especially in the Trump era,’ the newspaper said of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops elected as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday.
Some took issue with the Journal’s analysis, mocking the idea that a US passport is a disadvantage.
‘Spare me with the us passport during the Trump era. Oh whoops this is woke liberal WSJ,’ said one comment.
‘A US Passport is a disadvantage,’ read another comment, alongside laughing emojis.
‘Some would say a US passport is the greatest privilege on earth.’
Prevost, 69, is in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world.
He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then archbishop.
The Wall Street Journal claimed an American cardinal in the running to become Pope is being held back from leading the Catholic church by his US passport in the Trump era
Provost’s election as Pope has shocked the world, as there has been a taboo against a US pope
The late Pope Francis had an eye on him for years, sending him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014.
Prevost held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role.
White smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday at 6:07 p.m. local time, signaling that a pontiff had been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
Provost’s election as Pope has shocked the world, as there has long been a taboo against a U.S. pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere.
But Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
Prevost was also twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinian religious order, the 13th century order founded by St. Augustine.
Pope Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.
White smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday at 6:07 p.m. local time
Faithful celebrate after white smoke appeared from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel
He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts still counts the most Catholics.
Ever since he arrived in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he is well known to the men who count.
Chants of ‘Leon, Leon’ ran through the crowd who still appeared to be shocked with many mouthing ‘An American?’.
The first American born Pope, Cardinal Prevost emerged in recent days as a contender for the papacy.
The tennis loving cardinal – who is also known as Father Bob – is seen as the ‘least American of the Americans’ and is seen as a silent reformer who would carry on the work of Pope Francis.
He has worked for many years in Peru and was a popular choice with the Latin American and North American cardinals, although he has kept his views on topics such as women clergy and same sex unions noticeably quiet.
