U.S. President Donald Trump jokingly remarked on Tuesday that he’d like to become the next pope. When asked who he thought should succeed the current Catholic pontiff, Trump told reporters, “I’d like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice.” He clarified that he had no particular preference, but mentioned a “very good” cardinal from New York—referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is reportedly not on the list of likely candidates. However, the shortlist does include another American, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey.
Trump and his wife, Melania, recently attended the funeral of the late Pope Francis in Rome. The former pope and Trump had previously clashed, mainly over differing views on immigration. Around 135 cardinals are expected to soon gather in a secret conclave to elect the next pope, with no obvious frontrunner currently in place.
