The conclaves are famously unpredictable, and the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope surprised many.
Newly elected Pope Leo IV secured the approval of 133 cardinal electors after only four rounds of voting—a notably swift process for such a diverse group.
While his name had circulated among some Vatican watchers, other cardinals, such as Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s second-in-command likely to become the first Italian pontiff in nearly half a century, and Louis Tangle, a Filipino cardinal aspiring to be the first Asian pope, were seen as frontrunners.
Ultimately, however, Prevost became the first North American to triumph in this secretive election.
What transpired behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel?
By midday Thursday, Cardinal Parolin had gained traction, capturing between 45 and 55 votes, according to sources.
This was significant but fell short of the 89 votes needed for a two-thirds majority.
At that point, Cardinal Prevost had garnered between 34 and 44 votes.
As the Italian struggled to boost his support in the first three rounds, he withdrew from the race and endorsed Prevost, as reported by Sky News.
Conflict between Luis Tangle and Pamplo Virgilio David—both Asian cardinals—resulted in a stalemate.
Additionally, a candidate from Africa, representing the church’s conservative faction, was unlikely to gain favor in a conclave largely influenced by cardinals appointed by the progressive Pope Francis.
An American pope has been deemed improbable due to the geopolitical influence of the United States.
Nonetheless, Cardinal Prevost successfully united support from various factions: moderate U.S. cardinals, South American cardinals, and many from Europe rallied behind him.
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica noted that Prevost “certainly attracted bipartisan preferences, both ideologically and geographically.”
“He was the least American of the Americans: Born in Chicago, he spent over 20 years in Peru,” reported the paper.
With extensive experience in both the U.S. and Peru, it added: “As a collaborative leader, many viewed Prevost as the ideal candidate for pope.”
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