These Cardinals Have a Good Chance of Becoming Pope

The death of Pope Francis naturally raises immediate questions in Rome about his possible successor. Since 1978, with the election of John Paul II, foreigners have been chosen for the office of Bishop of Rome, leading Vatican insiders to wonder if the time has come for an Italian church leader once again.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa as a Diplomatic Dialogue Partner in the Middle East

Pierbattista Pizzaballa is considered a rising star among the Italian "papabili," being the first Patriarch of Jerusalem to make it into the College of Cardinals. In the minefield of the Middle East, Pizzaballa, who turned 60 on the day of Francis' death, has proven himself for years as a skilled diplomat and dialogue partner. Since 2020, the Northern Italian Franciscan has been the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. His style is unconventional. He is regarded as an excellent connoisseur of the complex, conflict-laden realities in the Middle East region. He maintains good dialogue with Jewish and Islamic religious leaders as well as with Orthodox leaders. All of this would be advantageous for him in the upcoming conclave.

Born on April 21, 1965, in Cologno al Serio in the Diocese of Bergamo, Pizzaballa studied theology and philosophy in Bologna. After his ordination in 1990, he went to Jerusalem, where he taught biblical Hebrew at the Franciscan School after completing his studies. In 2001, Pizzaballa, who speaks fluent Hebrew and maintains good contacts with Israeli society, took on the pastoral care of Hebrew-speaking Christians in Jerusalem on behalf of his order. At his election as Custos in 2004, he was 38 years old, making him the second youngest in the centuries-old history of the Custody. He held the office for twelve years.

In his role as Patriarch, he oversees a church district that includes Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as Jordan and Cyprus. According to Vatican information, the diocese counts 321,500 Latin Catholics in 71 parishes. Following the recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East in 2023, Pizzaballa regularly informed Pope Francis about developments. The Pope almost daily called the parish in Gaza to express his closeness to the Christians in the region.

Matteo Zuppi: Head of the Episcopate and Diplomat for Peace

Among the Italian favorites is also the 69-year-old Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi. The president of the Italian Bishops' Conference is known for his diplomatic skills and efforts for peace. He is particularly closely connected to the city of Rome, from childhood: Born there on October 11, 1955, he served as a chaplain in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere and became a pastor there, for a total of 29 years.

The basilica is also the seat of the Sant'Egidio community, which is committed to humanitarian concerns and marginalized groups. Zuppi was their spiritual assistant from 2000 to 2012; he brought the profile of Sant'Egidio with him to Bologna, where, after three years as an auxiliary bishop in Rome, he took over the leadership of the archdiocese in 2015. Since then, Zuppi has repeatedly made headlines nationwide for his advocacy of a more humane migration policy and for the Roma ethnic group.

Zuppi was a close ally of Pope Francis, who appointed him cardinal in 2019. Since 2022, he has been leading the Italian Bishops' Conference. Currently, he is also the Pope's special envoy for peace in Ukraine. He has visited the country several times since Russia's full-scale attack three years ago.

Pietro Parolin: "Prime Minister" of Francis

As an alternative to Zuppi, the Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin is considered among the Italians. He is currently the highest-ranking Curia cardinal and is particularly valued for his role in international politics. He prefers a quiet approach, which apparently resonates: The 70-year-old became known for his diplomatic work on the Vatican's relations with China as well as for his efforts in interreligious dialogue and peace processes. Pope Francis repeatedly sent his Cardinal Secretary of State to diplomatically sensitive locations. In Ukraine, the cardinal spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky. In personal interactions, Parolin appears moderate, open, and friendly. The shrewd and discreet communicator tends neither to arrogance nor to empty phrases.

Born on January 17, 1955, in Schiavon in the northern Italian province of Vicenza, Parolin was ordained a priest there in 1980. After studying theology and philosophy, he attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy from 1984. In 1986, the Doctor of Canon Law entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See. In 2002, he became the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Vatican. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela and consecrated him as a bishop in St. Peter's Basilica. In 2013, Pope Francis appointed him Cardinal Secretary of State and in July 2014 called him to the Cardinal Commission, which supported him in the Curia reform.

Parolin has long been considered "papabile," meaning suitable for the office of the Pope. The experienced churchman is still young enough, is diplomatically adept, known among the cardinals, and well-versed in many topics. Some see it as a drawback that he has never been a bishop of a diocese and has little pastoral experience. A weakness is also that he is considered a figurehead of the Francis pontificate. Should the papal electors decide on a radical change of course after the Argentine's time, Parolin would have little.

(APA/Red)

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