The inside story of how Robert Prevost became Pope Leo : NPR

Key Points:

• Following Pope Francis' death, Cardinal Robert Prevost received condolences and encouragement from friends worldwide as he prepared to participate in the 2025 conclave to elect the next pope.
• Prevost was initially not considered a leading papal contender ("papabile") largely due to being American, a nationality never before elected pope, especially amid the political climate of President Trump's "America First" agenda.
• Despite initial skepticism, Prevost's close alignment with Pope Francis' priorities—such as synodality, immigrant advocacy, environmental issues, and church reform—began to earn him serious consideration among cardinals during the conclave's General Congregation meetings.
• Prominent figures like Cardinal Timothy Dolan and others started to recognize Prevost's qualities of calm leadership and reliability, contrasting with the desire for a less "flashy" pope, and some cardinals privately acknowledged Prevost as a viable candidate.
• As the conclave approached, Prevost embraced the uncertainty of his potential election with humility and faith, while his family and friends prayed for the outcome to be what was best for the church.