"But I thought just maybe, for Pope Francis, it mattered that we had more cardinals who are really grounded there." Cardinal David has only been in the job for five months, after his surprise elevation last December.

Francis’ successor will be selected by cardinals at the conclave that began on May 7. Cardinals, known as the “princes of the church,” rank just below the pope in the Roman Catholic Church; together, they are known as the College of Cardinals. When a pope dies, the college chooses a successor.