Trump backs Raymond Burke to succeed Pope Francis amid Vatican leadership transition

Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88, attention has turned to the upcoming papal conclave—and Cardinal Raymond Burke has emerged as a prominent and controversial contender. The 76-year-old American cleric from Wisconsin is known for his staunchly conservative views and his repeated clashes with the late pope over key issues within the Catholic Church. Burke’s name is among several floated ahead of the Vatican conclave, where 138 cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in secrecy to elect the next pope. Though bookmakers currently rank him sixth among the frontrunners, Burke’s candidacy has gained renewed visibility due to vocal support from U.S. President Donald Trump. Now in his second term, Trump has praised Burke as a defender of traditional Church values, particularly during past disputes with Pope Francis. Previously the Archbishop of St. Louis, Burke was called to Rome by Pope Benedict XVI and later appointed prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest court. But tensions grew under Pope Francis, who removed Burke from the Congregation of Bishops in 2013 and later dismissed him from the tribunal in 2014. Burke frequently voiced opposition to the Vatican’s more inclusive tone, especially on topics such as LGBTQ rights and divorce. In 2023, a Vatican decision revoked Burke’s rent-free apartment and monthly stipend—an act framed as a reassignment of privileges, not a punishment. Burke, who remains in Rome, has maintained that while Pope Francis did not favor his leadership, he never considered him an adversary. Other leading candidates include moderates and progressives such as Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zuppi, Luis Antonio Tagle, and fellow conservative Peter Erdö. As the conclave approaches, Burke’s candidacy—backed by political forces—has sharpened the debate over whether the Church will continue Pope Francis’s progressive legacy or shift back toward traditionalist leadership.

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