Voting shift revealed: how Cardinals rallied behind Pope Leo XIV

A week after then-Cardinal Robert Prevost was presented to the world as Pope Leo XIV, evidence has emerged about the voting patterns of cardinals in the secretive but traditionally structured conclave that saw 133 cardinal electors choose the successor of Pope Francis.

As originally reported by Edward Pentin in the National Catholic Register, support for the American-born Pope, widely regarded as a conciliatory and unifying figure, accelerated after the second ballot and culminated in an overwhelming majority by the fourth.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State and an early front-runner, was initially backed by many of Pope Francis’ close allies and is believed to have attracted 40 to 50 votes in the first round. However, he failed to consolidate a broader consensus, as did other well-known figures like Cardinals Matteo Zuppi, Luis Antonio Tagle, and Mario Grech, whose support bases were split across various regions and ideological lines.

As leading contenders gradually fell out of contention, momentum shifted towards Cardinal Prevost, bolstered by a growing number of both conservative and centrist cardinals seeking unity. His candidacy began to gain serious traction in the third round of voting, reportedly assisted by support from influential prelates, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan. By the fourth ballot, Cardinal Prevost had secured well over the required two-thirds majority, more than 100 votes, propelling him to the papacy.

Contrary to some media claims, sources confirmed there was no pre-conclave lobbying by Cardinal Prevost, and suggestions that he visited Cardinal Raymond Burke during the general congregations were unfounded.

The new Pope’s appeal seems to transcend divisions within the Church. Cardinals from both progressive and traditional camps have described him as a “man of dialogue” and “a Pope of peace,” with many expressing cautious optimism that Leo XIV will lead the Church with wisdom, legal clarity, and pastoral sensitivity.

In the days following the election, the atmosphere in Rome and beyond has been marked by what one Vatican observer described as “widespread relief” and renewed hope. The election of Pope Leo XIV is being seen not only as a moment of healing after a polarized era, but also the beginning of a papacy poised to stabilize and strengthen the Church’s mission in an increasingly complex world.