Could next pope be Archdiocese of Newark's Cardinal Joseph Tobin?
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- In the wake of Pope Francis' death, the process to elect a new pope will soon begin -- sparking speculation that an American cardinal in New Jersey may have a shot at the papacy.
The faithful filled Newark's grand cathedral on Tuesday night to pay tribute to Pope Francis, and also to hear from the man who might replace him.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin is the archbishop of Newark, and was seen as a close confidant of Francis. The pontiff made Tobin a cardinal in 2016.
As head of the Archdiocese of Newark, Tobin has been seen as a voice in the style of Francis, a full-throated advocate for the rights of immigrants, and the LGBT community.
Now, the 72-year-old, known for his weightlifting routines, is showing up on shortlists everywhere, as a candidate to replace Francis, one of two American cardinals said to be in the running.
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In the next few days, 133 cardinals will descend on the Vatican and, as the conclave starts, will lock themselves in the Sistine Chapel.
Casting private ballots, the 133 cardinals will vote to choose one of their own as the next pope. The winning candidate must win a two-thirds majority, which might take multiple rounds of voting.
Unsuccessful ballots will be burned twice per day. The smoke will rise from a chimney. Black means no winner, while white signals a new pope.
Vatican insiders say it's unlikely the conclave would elect an American to lead the church.
Pope Francis appointed the vast majority of cardinals eligible to vote -- 80%, in fact. It's the most diverse group ever, but there's no guarantee they will choose a pope who's anything like him.
"If it's a papacy that lasts long enough, the College of Cardinals will have been shaped by them. They're shaping the people who will choose their successor. You would think that means they're shaping their successor, but in practice, it doesn't work that way," said ABC News papal contributor, Father John Wauck.
Last time around, it was Tobin's neighbor across the river, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, generating all the buzz.
"Pope Francis always complained about priests preaching too long, no wonder he was so popular," Cardinal Timothy Dolan said.
Dolan held a mass on Tuesday at St. Patrick's Cathedral in honor of the late pontiff.
"For us as Catholics, this is a death in the family. We didn't call him 'holy father' for nothing," Dolan said. "For all of you to be here means the world to us."
Dolan and Tobin will both fly to Rome for the funeral, and to join the 131 other cardinals from around the world.
Their votes, in secret, will determine the future of the Catholic church.
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