Michigan Native Among the Select Few Electing Next Pope

When the College of Cardinals meets in May inside the Sistine Chapel to pick a new pope following the death of Pope Francis, Michigan will have a hometown connection to history.

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Detroit-born Cardinal Joseph Tobin will be one of the 138 voting cardinals who will choose the next leader of the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin: From Detroit Catholic School to the College of Cardinals

Tobin, 72, grew up on Detroit's southwest side as the oldest of 13 siblings and attended Holy Redeemer Elementary. He even began his ministry in Michigan and went on to serve parishes in Detroit before being appointed Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

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In 2016, Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals, the body that will help to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church. Tobin is the first ever Detroit native to receive that honor.

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According to the Detroit Free Press, experts don't see him as a favorite for the papacy, but Tobin's reputation stands out. He has been a strong advocate for immigrants, has welcomed LGBTQ+ Catholics, pushed for greater roles for women in leadership, and opposed the death penalty. He has even suggested that a woman could be named a cardinal, which is a very progressive idea, especially inside the Vatican.

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Though he now leads Catholics in Newark, his Michigan roots are undeniable. Whether or not Detroit's own Cardinal Joseph Tobin is chosen as the next pope, it's nice to know that a Mitten State native will help shape the future of the Catholic Church.