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ROME // Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York, visited his titular church in Rome, Our Lady of Guadalupe a Monte Mario, on Sunday and responded to journalists asking him for his “prediction” regarding the next pope and for his opinion on the White House’s recent post of an image of President Donald Trump dressed in papal robes.
Outside of Mass, the cardinal was asked by Italian reporters to comment on the image of Trump. “It wasn’t good, I hope he had nothing to do with it,” Dolan said. When asked whether he felt offended by the gesture, he replied, “Well, as the Italians say, ‘ha fatto una brutta figura‘”—an expression used to describe someone making a poor or awkward impression in public.
Asked if there will be a “Francis II,” the New York Cardinal replied: “The characteristics that I expect for the next pope are first of all a smile, always a smile on the face, and then humility, simplicity… we are expressly looking for a Jesus.”
“I think,” he added, “that we are lucky because we could even make a mix of the last popes. Francis, but I also think of the intellectual intensity of Benedict XVI – and John Paul II with his courage and his call to follow Jesus. I think that if we could combine these great characteristics of them it would be a blessing.”
Regarding Trump’s alleged “endorsement” of Dolan as a possible “candidate” in the upcoming conclave, the Cardinal dismissed the idea with a smile: “Me, pope? I just want to be the Archbishop of New York.”
Later, during a brief sermon at morning Mass, the American Cardinal emphasized the importance of prayer for the Church and its leadership. “Please, pray for the cardinals in the conclave,” he urged the congregation, underscoring the spiritual weight carried by all the faithful during a conclave.
With his characteristic humor, the Cardinal concluded his brief homily by saying: “I remember Pope Francis and I loved him very much. And he often said to us priests, ‘You don’t have to preach too long.’ So that’s enough! Thank you!”
That humor surfaced again moments later as the collection began. Turning to the Italian parish priest and referring to the American community present in the church, Dolan quipped, “Don Gianfranco, I hope that the Americans will give something too!”