Exclusive | Cardinal Dolan reveals how future Pope Leo XIV impressed him at the conclave and predicts what kind of pontiff he will be

Accepto.With this one simple Latin word – literally, I accept — Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, Chicago native, a priest of the religious order known as the Augustinians, missionary to Peru, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops of the Roman curia, ceased to be.Sitting in his place was Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, Pontiff – bridge builder – of the Catholic Church.Although outwardly he looked the same as he had as the votes were being counted, when the magic number of 89 was reached, ensuring his election, all my brother cardinals and I who were gathered in the Sistine Chapel looked at him differently.Sede Vacante, the time known as “the empty chair” was over.The Church once again had a “papa,” a Holy Father.

And we, along with the rest of the world, rejoiced.It was a little more than two weeks since we had lost Pope Francis, and we still mourned his passing.But during the past 17 days, my brother cardinals and I had been meeting daily, discussing the strengths of the Church as we saw it from our perspective, the challenges we continue to face, and what kind of person we needed to lead us.During those many hours of meetings, at coffee breaks, or over lunch or dinner, I was often asked by other cardinals, “Tell me about Cardinal Prevost.

What kind of man is he?”I had to reply that, in all honesty, I did not know him.I knew of him, of course, and what I had heard had impressed me greatly.

A somewhat shy individual; a good listener; someone who spoke several languages; a priest with broad experience in Latin America; a former leader of his religious order; and, finally, someone who had spent the last few years in Rome, familiar with the workings of the bureaucracy that is the Roman Curia.“He runs a good meeting,” one cardinal said.Not a bad compliment, as most of us do not! Another added, “he hears everyone out, but is able to make a decision when one is needed.”Still another, “he has a deep ...