It turns out that the cardinal whom President Donald Trump wanted to be pope may have played a role in getting Pope Leo elected. 

That cardinal, according to the New York Post, is New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

It is not exactly clear how accurate this reporting is. One of the things that has raised eyebrows is the simple fact that Dolan and Pope Leo appear to have very different sociopolitical beliefs.

Dolan has weighed in on the situation.

The kingmaker?

Before Pope Leo was selected, Trump was asked whom he would like to see become the next pope. Trump was reluctant to answer the question, but he did throw Dolan's name out there.

The Washington Examiner reports that Dolan is "a  major conservative figure in the church and ally to Trump."

The Post is now reporting:

The powerful Big Apple cardinal [Dolan] served as “kingmaker” for fellow US Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, rallying support in the conclave especially among English-speaking cardinals hailing from former British Empire countries such as India and South Africa. Dolan’s gregarious campaign for Prevost . . . sank the chances of Cardinal Pietro Parolin from Italy, the Italian outlets somewhat bitterly reported.

Is there any truth to this?

This news has been reported by several news outlets, which doesn't not necessarily mean that it is true.

Dolan himself has also been asked about the situation. He said that he is "still trying to figure out" how Prevost got elected pope. He has further claimed that he did not really know Prevost.

During a recent interview, he said:

I said, ‘What about him, who is he? We never really considered him as a cardinal from the United States because he spent most of his life as a very effective missionary in Peru.

Opposite ends of the spectrum

Many outlets, since Prevost was selected, have reported on the fact that Prevost has appeared to align with the political left on sociopolitical issues.

The Post separately reported:

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV spent years amplifying criticism of President Trump’s policies on social media — with the Catholic Church’s first American leader taking particular aim at the Republican’s hardline immigration stance.

Accordingly, it would be somewhat ironic if Dolan, a conservative on sociopolitical issues, actually helped Prevost, a liberal, to become the next pope, particularly if Prevost continues his ways during his papacy. It is also hard to believe that Dolan was not aware of any of this.

Maybe, just maybe, Prevost is a big improvement from the alternatives, and maybe this is why Dolan pushed for him - if he did.