Vance's visit to Pope Francis that could have sealed León XIV's election

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been a surprise for everyone in the Vatican. Cardinal Robert Prevost, although he was considered a papabile candidate, was not even among the top ten candidates with the most chances. 

The truth is that the political framework was more redundant than one might have expected and the last contact of the Vice President of the United States with Francis, was decisive for his election. 

JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 after a search for spiritual roots and traditional values, has gained significant redundancy in the papal election process. 

Before Pope Francis's passing, Vance had a phone conversation with the then Supreme Pontiff. In this call, the Vatican leader asked him to make a trip to the Holy See with the aim of participating in the election of the new Pope. 

In both this phone conversation and the last meeting they had in the Vatican, Vance and Pope Francis agreed that Prevost was the option that gathered the most consensus. Although his slightly more progressive ideology differs from the more conservative positions of the U.S. Vice President, the relationship between them is good. 

Prevost, now Leo XIV, and JD Vance will seek to build bridges between the United States and the Vatican, so that the relationship between both states continues to strengthen. 

The role of the U.S. Vice President was also key in bringing closer the position of President Donald Trump. The U.S. leader sought the election of Raymond Burke, a candidate who strongly aligned with Trump's conservative values and the Republican Party. 

However, the consensus in the Vatican regarding the American was not so decisive and would not have achieved the goal of the papal election. It was then that Vance took action and asked Trump to give him the responsibility of choosing the best candidate for the papal competition. 

Pope Leo XIV has been described as a leader with a conservative orientation within the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago in 1955 and a member of the Order of St. Augustine, Prevost has dedicated much of his life to pastoral service, especially in Peru, where he was Bishop of Chiclayo between 2015 and 2023.

In doctrinal terms, he has expressed traditional stances on issues such as homosexuality and gender ideology. For example, in 2012, he lamented that popular culture promoted "sympathy for beliefs and practices contrary to the Gospel," referring to the "homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families composed of same-sex couples and their adopted children."

Additionally, he has opposed the inclusion of gender teachings in Peruvian schools, describing the promotion of gender ideology as confusing.

Despite these conservative stances, Prevost has emphasized the importance of inclusion and dialogue within the Church. He has stressed that, although doctrine doesn't change, the Church must be welcoming and open to all, without excluding anyone for their life choices. His leadership is characterized by a pastoral approach, seeking to promote unity and communion within the ecclesial community.

Prevost is registered as a member of the Republican Party in the United States and voted in the general elections in November 2024. It is highly likely that he voted for the current President Trump.