Almost immediately after the announcement of the death of Pope Francis yesterday, observers of the Vatican began speculating about who would succeed the late Argentinian pontiff.

The gathering to choose the next pope, known as a conclave, is happening at a time when the U.S. has an administration that is one of the most supportive of traditionalist Catholicism in recent American history. According to a Washington Post exit poll, President Donald Trump won the Catholic vote in America handily, 56% to 41%. That was a 10-point increase from the 2020 election.

The president also has several Catholics among his top advisers, including Vice President JD Vance—who visited the pope on Sunday, the day before he died—and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

Trump announced Monday that he and first lady Melania Trump will fly to Rome later this week to attend Francis’ funeral.

During the 2013 conclave that chose Francis, the National Security Agency under then-President Barack Obama allegedly intercepted calls within the........

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