Who Is Cardinal Robert Prevost? Strong Pope Candidate Explained

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Cardinal Robert Prevost is said to be a frontrunner in the next pope selection, and if he is elected, he would be the first American Pope in history.

The Dawning of a New Papal Era

Waking up Monday morning to the news that Pope Francis had passed away at the age of 88 was heartbreaking for people all over the world, of all religions.

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Pope Francis served as the head of the Catholic Church for 12 years, and on Saturday, April 26 he will be laid to rest at Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore following his funeral mass in the churchyard of the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Who Is Elligible to Be the Next Pope?

About 15 days after Pope Francis' funeral 138 Cardinals from all over the world, (9 from the United States), will gather in Rome for Conclave to elect the next Pope, and honestly, this whole process is completely fascinating to me.

Eligibility to be the next Pope is pretty simple. According to NBC Chicago;

Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate.

The Cardinals will not leave Conclave until a new Pope has been chosen, (typically about 2 to 3 days), and the World will know that a decision has been reached when white smoke is seen coming from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

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Could the First American Pope Be From Illinois?

Did you know that an American has never been elected as Pope? (I didn't until today!)

Typically the idea of an American Pope is pretty unthinkable, due to our country's "geopolitical" power, but one Cardinal from Chicago named Robert Provost is rumored to be a favorie.

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NBC Chicago's article says;

He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world.

Cardinal Prevost certainly sounds qualified to be the head of the Catholic Church, but I wouldn't place your bets on him being elected just yet.

To read more about some of the other favorite Pope contenders, click here.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.