VATICAN CITY
KMBZ

ABC News(VATICAN CITY) — Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, on Wednesday argued against electing a pope from the United States because the pontiff would be conflicted about delivering the “spiritual challenge” that a superpower needs from time to time.

Speaking with ABC’s Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos in Vatican City on Wednesday, Wuerl also commended the pope’s final public address and his historic decision to step down, while discussing the unlikely appointment of a U.S. pope at the upcoming Conclave.

“I think the conventional wisdom, which I think is correct, is a pope from the superpower would probably have a lot going against him when he’s trying to present a spiritual message to the rest of the world,” Wuerl said.