American Cardinal Becomes New Pope: Vatican Chooses Change

White smoke has once again risen over the Vatican—and no, this isn’t the start of a new political campaign. This time, the Conclave of Cardinals has elected an American as the new Pope: Robert Francis Prevost has assumed the role of head of the Catholic Church, which has certainly caused a slight sacred shiver among European cardinals accustomed to keeping the papal keys on a short leash.

For the first time in many years, the Roman Throne is occupied by a native of the United States—a country where coffee is loved as much as the Gospel, and prayers can be heard even at a baseball stadium. Cardinal Prevost is known as a supporter of reform and innovation—now, perhaps, papal bulls will be signed not only with a quill, but also with an iPad stylus.

It is clear that the choice of Robert Francis as Pope is a signal to the global Church: it’s time to refresh the interiors, rethink communication, and maybe add a little jazz to the liturgy. Why not? Rome has always known how to surprise! True connoisseurs of good old Latin chant need not worry just yet: reforms in the Vatican move at the speed of canonization—eternity plus or minus a couple of decades.

However, for American Catholicism, this is a breakthrough: for the first time in history, someone will be able to bless fast food even before the next official opening of McDonald’s. And European cardinals will now be practicing their English, so as not to seem retrograde to the new boss.

The pontificate of Robert Francis Prevost is an advance on the future renewal of the Church, though, by tradition, the recipe for holy water will remain strictly secret. Whether the new era of Catholicism will be more democratic or simply hand out indulgences faster through an app—only time will tell. In any case, Catholics are already being encouraged to follow the news—and, if necessary, keep their fingers crossed. That’s quite American now.