By Msgr. Roger Landry, National Catholic Register - Conventional wisdom in this and previous conclaves was that, because of the prominence of the United States in world affairs, an American cardinal was practically ineligible. That was still the take this conclave, even as many said about Cardinal Prevost that he “checked all of the boxes” the electors would ordinarily look for in a pontiff — he spoke five languages; served in the missions in Latin America for 22 years; regularly traveled the globe during his 12 years as leader of the Augustinians; served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, helping Pope Francis select bishops in non-missionary countries; served on the board of many other departments in the Roman Curia, making him keenly aware both of the issues facing the Church globally as well in the Vatican; and was 69, so that his projected papacy wouldn’t be too long or too short. ....