Could there be an American pope? Here are the US frontrunners for pontiff
The simple answer is unlikely, but it's not impossible.
This enormous decision will be made by cardinals from all over the world. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, 138 are currently eligible to elect the new pope. Though the American Catholic Church is one of the biggest and richest in the world, there has never been an American-born pope. The idea of an American pope has often been dismissed, given the geopolitical influence America already has across the globe.
There are currently nine U.S. cardinals that are expected to take place in the 2025 conclave, according to the list of cardinal electors.
They are: Cardinal Robert Prevost, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley and Cardinal Raymond Burke.
With nine U.S. cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave out of 138, the mathematical possibility of the next pope being American is around 6.5 percent. Bookmakers odds are also unfavorable.
According to Online Betting Guide, none of the Americans are considered favorites. According to William Hill, Luis Antonio Tagle and Pietro Parolin are currently front-runners to succeed Francis with 7/4 odds followed by Cardinal Peter Erdo at 8/1.
However, as fans of the Academy Award-winning movie Conclave know, the process of selecting a new pope is political – and anything could happen. Even so, John Allen Jr., a Vatican expert and author of 'All the Pope's Men: The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks' told The New York Post, that the prospect of an American pope is slim.
Appointed Archbishop of New York in 2009, Dolan is one of the most recognizable figures in the U.S. Catholic church – known for his charisma and media savvy. However, one of the main issues, according to Allen, is that Dolan may simply be 'too American.'
'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 told The Post. 'Nonetheless, I suspect you'd have to rate Dolan as a long shot, not a favorite.'
Americans, often seen at the forefront of global culture clashes and with stereotypically brash attitudes, would need to demonstrate other skills such as experience abroad and capacity with languages to take on the role.
Burke, who was born in Wisconsin, has already been touted by some as a possible successor to the pontiff, having participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.
Regarded by critics as an outspoken traditionalist he was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
Burke publicly clashed with Francis's more liberal philosophies, particularly regarding his willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. He has also called the church's new language around artificial contraception, civil marriages and gay people 'objectionable'.
He previously said that Catholic politicians who support legalized abortion, such as former president Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist.
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Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Orange County congresswoman targeted by protests over Trump megabill, cuts to healthcare
Protestors railed on Tuesday against an Orange County congresswoman who could be a critical vote on President Trump's proposal to cut more than $1 trillion in federal dollars that helped pay for healthcare for those in need and extend tax cuts for millions of Americans. Trump's proposed 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' narrowly passed the U.S. Senate hours before hundreds ofpeople gathered in a cul-de-sac outside of the Anaheim field office of Republican Rep. Young Kim to protest those cuts. The legislation still needs to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives, which could happen before the end of the week. 'I don't know why they call it beautiful, because there's nothing about it that's beautiful. It's harmful, it's reckless, and it's cruel, and it's going to hurt people,' said Melody Mendenhall, a nurse at UCLA who is active with the California Nurses Assn., which was among the groups that organized the protest. 'Rep. Young Kim, hear our cry, hear our voices. We need our Medicaid. We cannot afford this type of reckless cuts and behavior.' A security guard blocked the parking lot to Kim's office and at least a half-dozen Anaheim police officers watched the protest unfold. Several people who appeared to be Kim staffers watched the demonstration from outside the building before they dashed inside when protestors marched to the building, unsuccessfully sought to enter it and then began chanting 'Shame! Shame!' In a statement, Kim said that her door was always open to Californians in her district. 'I understand some of my constituents are concerned and know how important Medicaid services are for many in my community, which is why I voted to protect and strengthen Medicaid services for our most vulnerable citizens who truly need it,' Kim said. 'I have met with many of these local healthcare advocates in recent months.' Trump's proposal would dramatically overhaul the nation's tax code by making cuts approved during the president's first term permanent, a major benefit the the corporations and the nation's wealthy, while slashing funding for historic federal safety-net programs including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps provide food to low-income Americans. Roughly 15 million Californians, more than a third of the state, are on Medi-Cal, the state's version of Medicaid, with some of the highest percentages in rural counties that supported Trump in the November election. More than half of California children receive healthcare coverage through Medi-Cal. A version of the Republican bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives with Kim's support. The U.S. Senate narrowly approved an amended version of the bill on Tuesday. The defection of three GOP senators meant Vice President J.D. Vance had to cast the tie-breaking vote for it to pass in that chamber. The House and Senate will now work to reconcile their two different versions of the bill. This week was a district work week for members of Congress, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) ordered members back to Washington, D.C., for votes on the bill that could occur Wednesday or Thursday. Republicans hope to get the legislation to President Trump's desk for his signature by Friday, Independence Day, though there is some concern among its members about whether they will have enough votes to pass the bill because of potential defections and the united Democratic opposition. An analysis released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Sunday estimated that the Senate version of the proposal would increase the national deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion from 2025 to 2034 and would result in 11.8 million Americans losing healthcare insurance in less than a decade. Trump praised the passage of the bill on social media and urged House Republicans to support the Senate plan. The proposal has caused a rift within the GOP, with and some House members have expressed reservations about the measure because of the amount it would add to the nation's deficit and its impact on their constituents. 'I've been clear from the start that I will not support a final reconciliation bill that makes harmful cuts to Medicaid, puts critical funding at risk, or threatens the stability of healthcare providers' in his congressional district, Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) wrote on the social media site X on Sunday. He represents more than a half million Central Valley residents who rely on Medicaid – the most of any congressional district in California, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center. A spokesperson for Valadao on Tuesday didn't respond to a question about how the congressman planned to vote. Kim's Orange County district is more affluent than Valadao's, but roughly one in five of her constituents rely on Medicaid. 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'Let me make this clear, this bill is a backdoor abortion ban,' she said. Shari Home, 73, said she and her husband were weighing how to divide their Social Security income on food, medication and medical supplies after her husband, who suffers several chronic health conditions, fell last year. 'The hospitalizations were so expensive, so we applied for and got Medi-Cal in January and food assistance, and it's been such a lifesaver,' said the Laguna Woods resident. 'Without Medi-Cal, I don't know what we would do. Our lives would not be good. We would not have the medications that he needs.' Michelle Del Rosario, 57, wore a button picturing her son William, 25, on her blouse. The Orange resident, one of Kim's constituents who has previously voted for her, is the primary caregiver for her son, who has autism, epilepsy and does not speak. Her son relies on his Medi-Cal coverage for his $5,000-a-month seizure medicine, as well as the home health support he receives, she said. 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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
How does it feel to be an American? We asked, and you answered.
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Today, however, my American pride is tinged with a sense of betrayal — not solely by leaders acting in self-interest, but by my fellow Americans, whose silence and acceptance of falsehoods allow dangerous narratives pushed by our leaders to flourish. Recent events remind us how easily power cloaks itself in moral pretense. This July Fourth, let's reaffirm our commitment to integrity and beat the odds that suggest our decline is inevitable. Preserving a nation worthy of its promise can't be relegated only to those wearing a uniform; it is the duty of all Americans who believe that through leading by example, with honesty and accountability, we can truly be free. Finding America in conversations with strangers Alex Chueh, writer, Cambridge Our nation brims with stories about hopeful souls formulating plans that imbue life with purpose; striving, scheming, American dreaming. An American's initial impulse isn't why? , but why not? 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Layered structures of intimidation protected those with power by keeping regular people silent, stressed out, and poor. Now half of America seems to be naïvely embracing similar treatment from our own government. I wish those who rage against illegal immigrants would ask themselves: Isn't it better to live in a country that people are sneaking into than one they sneak out of? If we continue following Trump down his embarrassing gold-tone escalator, it will be a tragic fate for our once-great nation. People who live surrounded by fear are not free. Conflicted, worried, but still proud Joshua, data technician, Newton I've long held contradictory feelings as an American. There is a great democratic heritage in this country to be proud of: the But hypocrisy, inequality, and ignorance are American, too. We've fallen for demagogues and snake-oil salesmen before. Reconstruction was followed by a century of terror against freedmen; our democracy has been stunted by disenfranchisement; the financial oligarchy has now totally captured the state and is using it to claw back all the working-class gains of the past century. Despite everything, despite feeling some days like America neither wants me, its native son, nor my wife, an immigrant, I'm proud of the America of Tom Paine and Sam Adams, of Frederick Douglass and John Brown, of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, of Eugene Debs and John Reed, of Medgar Evers and Viola Liuzzo, of Editors: Jim Dao, Rebecca Spiess. Digital editor: Rami Abou-Sabe. Audience engagement editor: Karissa Korman. Copy editor: Karen Schlosberg. Podcast: Katelyn Harrop and Shirley Leung.
CNBC
2 hours ago
- CNBC
What the Senate Republican tax-and-spending bill means for your money
Senate Republicans on Tuesday approved their version of President Donald Trump 's multitrillion-dollar tax-and-spending package, which could broadly impact millions of Americans' wallets. Similar to the House's One Big Beautiful Bill Act advanced in May, the Senate legislation aims to make permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts, while adding new tax breaks for tip income, overtime pay and auto loans, among other provisions. If enacted, the bill could also slash spending on social safety net programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, end tax credits tied to clean energy and overhaul student loans. The spending package could still see changes as it returns to the lower chamber for approval. But a House floor vote could come this week to meet Trump's July 4 deadline. Here are some of the key provisions to watch — and how those measures could affect household finances. How to read this guide Follow along from start to finish, or use the table of contents to jump to the section(s) you want to learn more about. 'SALT' deduction Since 2018, the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT, has been a critical issue for certain lawmakers in high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey and California. The SALT deduction — which lets taxpayers who itemize deduct all or some of their state and local income and property taxes — was unlimited for filers before 2018. But the alternative minimum tax reduced the benefit for some wealthier Americans. A sticking point for some House lawmakers, the lower chamber approved a permanent $40,000 SALT limit starting in 2025. That benefit begins to phaseout, or decrease, for consumers who have more than $500,000 of income. The Senate version of the bill would also lift the cap to $40,000 starting in 2025. It also begins to phaseout at $500,000. Both figures would increase by 1% yearly through 2029, and the $40,000 limit would revert to $10,000 in 2030. If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper middle-income. "If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper middle-income," since lower earners typically don't itemize tax deductions, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, previously told CNBC. The Senate bill also preserves a SALT cap workaround for pass-through businesses, which allows owners to avoid the $10,000 SALT limit. By contrast, the House bill would eliminate the strategy for certain white-collar professionals. — Kate Dore The child tax credit gives families with qualifying dependent children a tax break. It's a credit, so it reduces their tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Trump's 2017 tax cuts temporarily boosted the maximum child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000, an increase that will sunset after 2025 without an extension from Congress. If enacted, the Senate bill would permanently bump the biggest credit to $2,200 starting in 2025 and index this figure for inflation starting in 2026. Momo Productions | Getty Meanwhile, the House version of the bill lifts the top child tax credit to $2,500 from 2025 through 2028. After 2028, the credit's highest value would revert to $2,000 and be indexed for inflation. However, the proposed bills wouldn't help 17 million children from low-income families who don't earn enough to claim the full credit, according to Elaine Maag, senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. — Kate Dore Older Americans may receive an extra tax deduction under the legislation. Both the House and Senate called for a temporary enhanced deduction for Americans ages 65 and over, dubbed a "bonus," in their respective versions of the "big beautiful" bill. The Senate proposed raising the deduction to $6,000 per qualifying individual, up from $4,000 proposed by the House. The full deduction would be available to individuals with up to $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income, and $150,000 if married and filing jointly. Notably, the Senate version would phase out at a faster rate for taxpayers who are above those thresholds. Ultimately, middle-income taxpayers may benefit most from the enhanced deduction, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, recently told CNBC. The senior bonus is in lieu of eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, which had been touted by the Trump administration, since changes to Social Security are generally prohibited in reconciliation legislation. — Lorie Konish As Republicans seek to slash federal spending, Medicaid, which provides health coverage for more than 71 million people, has been a target for those cuts in both House and Senate versions of the bill. The Senate version would cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, compared with more than $800 billion in cuts in the House version, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. New federal work rules would require beneficiaries ages 19 to 64 who apply for coverage or who are enrolled through an Affordable Care Act expansion group to work at least 80 hours per month. Adults may be exempt if they have dependent children or other qualifying circumstances such as a medical condition. Notably, the Senate version of the bill proposed stricter limits on exemptions for parents, limiting it to those with dependent children ages 14 and under. The proposed Medicaid changes would also require states to conduct eligibility redeterminations for coverage every six months, rather than every 12 months based on current policy. About 7.8 million people could become uninsured by 2034 due to Medicaid cuts, the CBO has projected, based on the House bill. — Lorie Konish Both Senate and House versions of the "big beautiful" bill propose cuts to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. The cuts in the Senate bill may ultimately affect more than 40 million people, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That includes about 16 million children, 8 million seniors and 4 million non-elderly adults with disabilities, among others, according to CBPP, a nonpartisan research and policy institute. Many states would be required to pay a percentage for food benefits to make up for the federal funding cuts. If they cannot make up for the funding losses, that could result in cuts to SNAP benefits or states opting out of the program altogether, according to CBPP. The Senate proposal also seeks to expand existing work requirements to include adults ages 55 to 64 and parents with children 14 and over. Based on current rules, most individuals cannot receive benefits for more than three months out of every three years unless they work at least 20 hours per week or qualify for an exemption. For about 600,000 low-income households, food benefits could be cut by an average of $100 per month, according to CBPP. — Lorie Konish The Senate's version of Trump's budget bill also included a new savings account for children with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for those born in 2024 through 2028. Starting in 2026, so-called " Trump accounts," a type of tax-advantaged savings account, would be available to all children under the age of 8 who are U.S. citizens, largely in line with the House plan advanced in May. To be eligible to receive the initial seed money, both parents must have Social Security numbers. Parents would then be able to contribute up to $5,000 a year and the balance will be invested in a diversified fund that tracks a U.S. stock index. Earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are taxed as long-term capital gains. Republican lawmakers have said these accounts will introduce more Americans to wealth-building opportunities and the benefits of compound growth. But some experts say a 529 college savings plan is a better alternative because of the higher contribution limits and tax advantages. — Jessica Dickler Lower student loan limits, fewer benefits Key changes may be in store for student loan borrowers. For starters, Republicans would limit how much money people can borrow from the federal government to pay for their education. Among other measures, the Senate plan would: Cap unsubsidized student loans at $20,500 per year and $100,000 lifetime, for graduate students; Cap borrowing for professional degrees, such as those for doctors and lawyers, at $50,000 per year and $200,000 lifetime; Add a lifetime borrowing limit for all federal student loans of $257,500; Cap parent borrowing through the federal Parent PLUS loan program at $20,000 per year per student and $65,000 lifetime; Eliminate grad PLUS loans. These allow grad students to borrow up to their entire cost of attendance minus any federal aid. Going forward, there would be just two repayment plan choices for new borrowers: Student loan borrowers could enroll in either a standard repayment plan with fixed payments or an income-based repayment plan known as the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. The bill would also nix the unemployment deferment and economic hardship deferment, both of which student loan borrowers use to pause their payments during periods of financial difficulty. — Jessica Dickler and Annie Nova The Senate bill creates a tax deduction for car loan interest, similar to a provision in the House bill. Certain households would be able to deduct up to $10,000 of annual interest on new auto loans from their taxable income. The tax break would be temporary, lasting from 2025 through 2028. There are some eligibility restrictions. For example, the deduction's value would start to fall for individuals whose annual income exceeds $100,000; the threshold is $200,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return. Cars must also be assembled in the U.S. In practice, the tax benefit is likely to be relatively small, experts said. "The math basically says you're talking about [financial] benefit of $500 or less in year one," based on the average new loan, Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, an auto market research firm, recently told CNBC. — Greg Iacurci The Senate passed the No Tax on Tips Act in late May, a standalone legislation that would create a federal income tax deduction of up to $25,000 per year on tip income, with some limitations. The tax break would apply to workers who typically receive cash tips reported to their employer for payroll tax withholdings, according to the summary of the bill. The Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a similar provision: qualifying individuals would be able to claim a deduction of up to $25,000 for qualified tips. However, the Senate version would not apply to taxpayers whose income exceeds $150,000, or $300,000 for joint filers. Should the bill go into effect as drafted, the Secretary of the Treasury will publish a list of occupations that typically received tips on or before Dec. 31, 2024. The provision would apply to taxable years between Dec. 31, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2028. — Ana Teresa Solá The House and Senate bills would provide a temporary tax break for overtime pay, a campaign promise from Trump. The House-approved bill would create a deduction for "qualified overtime compensation" of $160,000 or less from 2025 to 2028. The deduction is "above the line," meaning the tax break is available regardless of whether you itemize deductions. By contrast, the Senate bill offers a maximum $12,500 above-the-line deduction for overtime pay, and $25,000 for married couples filing jointly, from 2025 to 2028. The tax break begins to phase out once earnings exceed $150,000, and $300,000 for joint filers. — Kate Dore EV, clean energy tax credits The Senate bill, like its House counterpart, would end consumer tax credits tied to clean energy. It would end a $7,500 tax credit for households that buy or lease a new electric vehicle, and a $4,000 tax credit for buyers of used EVs. These tax credits would disappear after Sept. 30, 2025. Additionally, it would scrap tax breaks for consumers who make their homes more energy-efficient, perhaps by installing rooftop solar, electric heat pumps, or efficient windows and doors. These credits would end after Dec. 31, 2025. An aerial view shows solar panels atop the roofs of homes on February 25, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images Many tax breaks on the chopping block were created, extended or enhanced by the Inflation Reduction Act, a 2022 law signed by former President Joe Biden that provided a historic U.S. investment to fight climate change. The tax breaks are currently slated to be in effect for another seven or so years, through at least 2032. — Greg Iacurci Section 199A pass-through business deduction Another key provision in the House and Senate bills could offer a bigger deduction for so-called pass-through businesses, which includes contractors, freelancers and gig economy workers. Enacted via Trump's 2017 tax cuts, the Section 199A deduction for qualified business income is currently worth up to 20% of eligible revenue, with some limits. This will expire after 2025 without action from Congress. The House-approved bill would make the provision permanent and expand the maximum tax break to 23% starting in 2026. Meanwhile, the Senate measure would make the deduction permanent but keep it at 20%. — Kate Dore
