Who is Cardinal Timothy Dolan? What are his chances to become first American Pope in papal election?
Who is Cardinal Timothy Dolan?
Cardinal Dolan
has been a household name within the US Catholic circles for over a decade now. He was appointed as Archbishop of New York in 2009. Pope Benedict XVI, in 2012, elevated him to the rank of cardinal.
According to a NorthJersey report, he soon became popular and was known for his charisma, affable public persona, and staunch conservatism. Dolan has also served as a president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and has been a vocal defender of Church teaching, as per the report.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Play War Thunder now for free
War Thunder
Play Now
Undo
From opposing abortion rights, same-sex marriage to criticising Obama administration for their contraceptive mandate—Dolan has often been at the centre of American culture wars. However, despite his visibility and influence, the reports quoted Vatican experts suggesting that it is a longshot for Cardinal Dolan to be elected as the next Pope.
Why is an American Pope Unlikely?
Any male Roman Catholic, who has been baptised, is technically eligible to be elected as pope. However, every pope since 1378 has been selected from the College of Cardinals. Theoretically, Dolan is qualified to be the pope. However, no American has ever worn the white cassock and experts believe that it has been an intentional decision.
Live Events
Reportedly, the Catholic Church has been historically hesitant to elect a pope from the US. They fear that it could politicise the papacy and undermine the pope's independence. American cardinals are frequently regarded as 'culture warriors', according to media reports. The division of ideology within the Church in the US has resulted in an American Pope being unpalatable for many outside of the country.
Also Read :
Are banks open on Easter Monday? Is it a federal holiday in US? Details here
Media reports quoted a Vatican journalist John Thavis as saying that a major obstacle against Dolan's papacy is that he is 'too American'.
What comes next after Pope Francis' death?
Following Pope Francis' death, the Church entered a period known as sede vacante (the Chair is vacant). The cardinals will soon journey to Rome, and although informal conversations are happening, the formal conclave will be held in total secrecy.
Cardinal Dolan may not have a role as a candidate, but rather a kingmaker. With eight American cardinals (more than any other single country outside Italy) together in conclave, they could move the Church in virtually any direction, the reports added.
FAQs
Q1. Who is
Cardinal Timothy Dolan
?
A1. Cardinal Dolan is the Archbishop of New York, known for his charisma, conservative views, and leadership in the US Catholic Church. He was elevated to cardinal in 2012.
Q2. Why is an American Pope unlikely?
A2. Experts believe an American pope may politicise the papacy. US cardinals are often seen as 'culture warriors,' which makes them controversial outside the country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
30 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Trump's Vietnam deal signals China tariffs unlikely to ease further
Chinese goods face 55% tariffs, likely through August. Under the Vietnam deal, the US will impose 20% tariffs on Vietnamese exports and 40% on transshipped goods to curb Chinese tariff evasion Bloomberg President Donald Trump's new trade deal with Vietnam sends a clear signal about where US tariffs on Chinese goods might ultimately land, as talks between Washington and Beijing continue following their recent truce. Chinese goods currently face tariffs of around 55 per cent, a level expected to remain through August. But under the latest Vietnam agreement, the US will slap a 20 per cent tariff on Vietnamese exports to the US and a steeper 40 per cent levy on goods deemed to be transshipped — the latter targeting a well-worn backdoor used by Chinese exporters since the first China-US trade war to dodge American tariffs. By closing the loopholes, the Trump administration is signaling what any future deal with China might look like. The 40 per cent tariff on transshipped goods suggests that even if tariffs on China are eventually reduced, they're unlikely to fall significantly below that threshold. 'The 40 per cent figure in the Vietnam deal might reflect a broader conviction in the Trump administration about the appropriate tariff level on China, which would be similarly reflected in other bilateral deals,' said Gabriel Wildau, a managing director at Teneo focused on political risk analysis in China. 'However, I am skeptical that Trump has a specific red line for minimum tariffs on China.' Beijing and Washington reached a trade framework last month following talks in London, which remains in effect through mid-August. As part of the deal, China agreed to resume shipments of rare earths — key inputs for wind turbines, electric vehicles and military hardware. In return, the US offered to ease some export restrictions on ethane, chip-design software and jet engine components. US tariffs on Chinese goods have been cut back to around 55 per cent, down from as high as 145 per cent in early April. But 20 per cent tariffs tied to fentanyl remain in place. Beijing has since tightened controls on two precursor chemicals used to make the drug — one of the few obvious avenues it has to win further tariff relief. 'The 20 per cent is really the focal point where all the attention is centered right now,' said Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Research. 'The thinking is that the Chinese government is very willing to do a deal on something related to fentanyl. They've been telegraphing that for months.'' Still, those efforts are unlikely to bring Chinese tariffs below the 40 per cent rate now applied to Vietnam. If China's duties were to fall to 35 per cent, for instance, it would restore a competitive edge to China and encourage firms to shift operations back, running counter to the Trump administration's broader objectives. 'If China ends up with a lower tariff level than Vietnam that would certainly shift the competitiveness calculations somewhat, but keep in mind that moving production facilities is not as easy as flipping a light switch on and off,' said Stephen Olson, a former US trade negotiator now with the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. 'From the perspective of Chinese companies, there is zero confidence that once Trump sets a tariff level that it will remain at that level.' For now, there are signs both sides are following through on the terms of the London agreement and displaying signs of goodwill. The Trump administration has lifted recent export license requirements for chip design software sales in China, and approved US ethane exports to China without additional approvals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Chinese rare earth magnets are flowing, although they haven't yet bounced back to the levels seen before China imposed export curbs in early April. The US remains hopeful that China will further ease restrictions on those exports after their London deal, he said in an interview Tuesday on Fox News. Meanwhile, a senior Chinese official on Thursday delivered one of Beijing's most positive messages about his nation's ties with the US in weeks. Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party's International Department, said at the World Peace Forum that he was 'optimistic' about future relations. China is keenly aware of what it's gained from China-US cooperation,' Liu said 'Our cooperation is mutually beneficial. The act of putting up barriers will hurt the other and ourselves as well.' Other negotiations Apart from Vietnam, Beijing is growing increasingly cautious about US efforts to strike trade deals that could isolate China. With a July 9 deadline approaching, when Trump's higher 'reciprocal' tariffs are set to take effect, American officials are ramping up negotiations with key partners in Asia and Europe. What Bloomberg Economics says... 'The looming question now is how China will respond. Beijing has made clear that it would respond to deals that came at the expense of Chinese interests and the decision to agree to a higher tariff on goods deemed to be 'transshipped' through Vietnam may fall in that category. Given China's position as Vietnam's largest trading partner and key source of inputs for domestic production, any retaliatory steps could have an outsized impact on Vietnam's economy.' — Rana Sajedi and Adam Farrar. Click here to read the full report. Beijing on Thursday said it's taken note of the US-Vietnam trade deal and is currently assessing the situation. 'We're happy to see all parties resolve trade conflicts with the US through equal negotiations, but firmly oppose any party striking a deal at the expense of China's interests,' He Yongqian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said at a briefing. 'If such a situation arises, China will firmly strike back to protect its own legitimate rights and interests,' she added, repeating a familiar warning. Olson cautioned against relying too much on the US-Vietnam trade agreement as a blueprint for assessing Washington's approach to China. The stakes in US-China negotiations are significantly higher, shaped by strategic rivalry and a wider set of geopolitical considerations. There is also much less of a power discrepancy in the US-China discussions. 'One important takeaway for China from both the Vietnam deal and the previous deal with the UK is that the US intends to use these negotiations to apply pressure on China,' Olson said. 'This could lead China to a much more sober assessment of what it might be possible to achieve with the US in these negotiations.'
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Who is Hakeem Jeffries, whose 8-hour speech failed to block Trump's megabill?
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered an 8-hour, 44-minute speech on the House floor early Thursday, 3 July, setting a new record for the longest leadership speech in congressional history . The address was delayed, but did not prevent a vote on President Donald Trump's sweeping policy, the Big Beautiful Bill. Jeffries began speaking at 4:53 a.m. EDT, using the 'magic minute' rule to stall the 900-page bill that Democrats oppose. The speech surpassed the previous 8 hours and 32 minutes, set by then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in 2021. Throughout the speech, Jeffries criticized Republicans and called the bill an 'effort to hurt the American people.' He said Democrats were a 'hell no' on the legislation and urged four Republicans to cross the aisle and vote against it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (View Current Prices) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo The bill, which includes Trump's major legislative priorities, had only an hour of formal debate split between two House committees. Jeffries said the limited time was inadequate and cited it as a reason for taking 'his sweet time' on the floor. 'I feel the obligation... to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time to tell the stories of the American people,' Jeffries said during his remarks. Live Events Despite the delay, the House moved forward with the bill and is expected to head to President Trump's desk. Who is Hakeem Jeffries? Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (born August 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York) is the House Minority Leader, the first Black person to lead a major party in either chamber of Congress. A Yale-educated lawyer and former New York State Assembly member (2007–2012), he's represented New York's 8th congressional district since 2013. Unanimously elected Democratic Leader in November 2022, Jeffries previously served as House Democratic Caucus Chair and Congressional Black Caucus Whip. He rose to national prominence as an impeachment manager in President Trump's 2020 trial.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Trump kicks off a yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary in Iowa
President Donald Trump turned a heartland festival for the United States' upcoming 250th anniversary into a celebration of himself, basking in a crowd of supporters Thursday night shortly after Congress approved tax cut legislation that he championed. On the eve of the July 4th holiday , Trump said "there could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago, when Congress passed the one big beautiful bill to make America great again." The Republican president plans to sign the legislation Friday during a picnic at the White House, while stealth bombers and fighter jets that participated in recent airstrikes in Iran fly overhead, a symbolic synthesis of the overwhelming force that he's deployed to reshape Washington and the country. "We've saved our country," he boasted after taking the stage, pumping his fists while singer Lee Greenwood belted out Trump's campaign trail anthem "God Bless the USA." In addition to tax breaks, the legislation boosts funding for deportations while cutting back on healthcare and food assistance for low income people. The event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines was the opening act for a yearlong birthday party to mark two and a half centuries of American independence. The plans will culminate next summer with a massive fair on the National Mall in Washington featuring exhibits from every state. Live Events U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley, Trump's liaison to the organizing group, America250, said in an interview that the celebration "is something that I think that all Americans can come together to celebrate and honor our history as well as our present and our future." When she took the stage, she delivered an ode to Trump, describing him as the inheritor of the country's original revolutionary spirit. "I don't know what more people expect or want from an American president," Crowley said. "He is literally fulfilling the entire job description, and so much more." A few thousand spectators waited for Trump for hours in 90-plus degree Fahrenheit (32 degree Celsius) heat. The audience was awash in Trump paraphernalia, including "Make America Great Again" hats, shirts that said "Ultra MAGA" and a stuffed monkey with its own miniature Trump shirt. During the speech, Trump heard what sounded like fireworks. The anniversary of his attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, was only ten days away. "It's only fireworks, I hope," he said. "Famous last words." Unlike a year ago, Trump was speaking from behind thick bulletproof glass. "You always have to think positive," he said. "I didn't like that sound either." The reminder of one of the darkest moments in recent political history did little to dampen Trump's political euphoria. He boasted about the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the declining price of eggs, the lower number of migrants crossing the southern border with Mexico and his election victories. "We got great marks in the first term, and this is going to blow it away," Trump said. He said he likes calling his wife Melania "first lady" because "it reminds me that I'm president." Organizers see the coming year of festivities as a way to help unite a polarized nation and bridge partisanship. But it's a monumental task given the country's divides and the staunch Democratic opposition to the 800-plus page package full of the GOP's main policy priorities. More U.S. adults also disapprove than approve of how the Republican president is doing his job. A recent Gallup poll showed the widest partisan split in patriotism in over two decades, with only about a third of Democrats saying they are proud to be American, compared with about 9 in 10 Republicans. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump's performance as president, according to a June AP-NORC poll, while about 6 in 10 disapprove. The Trump administration's own cost-cutting moves this year threaten to complicate the celebrations. Reduced funding led the National Endowment for the Humanities to send letters to state humanities councils across the country saying their federal grants had been terminated. Many of those councils had been working on programming to commemorate the 250th anniversary and had already dedicated some of their federal grants for events at libraries, schools and museums. Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities and chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission, said the cuts already have curtailed some of the planned programs, including community readings of the Declaration of Independence. "It is very hard to understand how we can protect and preserve people's ability locally to make this mean something for them, and to celebrate what they want to celebrate, if you're not funding the humanities councils," Lyon said.
