FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
In the shadow of the Conclave that will begin on May 7, a report sheds light on a political-ecclesiastical "thriller" that is unfolding in Rome...
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state since 2013 and long considered the natural successor to Pope Francis, is seeing his position as the frontrunner erode as the start of the conclave approaches.
As parismatch.com reports, Parolin's diplomatic experience, particularly as apostolic nuncio, and his management of Vatican affairs for more than a decade initially seemed to work in his favor.
His profile as a reliable administrator contrasted with the unpredictable behavior of which Pope Francis was accused, whose decisions had often shocked the Roman Curia.
However, the controversial agreement with China, which was negotiated under his leadership, turned out to be his Achilles heel. Some high-ranking clerics believe that he will abandon China's Catholic bishops in favor of bishops chosen by the communist regime. Among them, the conservative Cardinal Zen of Hong Kong has expressed his intention to participate in the pre-conciliar discussions, in order to openly criticize the Foreign Minister's action on the issue.
Francis "overrides Church tradition"
In response, Cardinal Beniamino Stella will campaign in Parolin's favor, according to Gerard O'Connell writing in the Jesuit online magazine America. During the preparatory meetings, Stella criticized Francis' pontificate, accusing him of "violating the tradition of the Church" by separating the power of government from holy orders, thus allowing laymen and women to hold leadership positions in the Vatican.
This statement, according to the American website, would actually serve to attract the conservative wing of the body of cardinals and thus gather votes for the Secretary of State.
Despite this, cardinals are openly expressing their reservations about his candidacy, such as Cardinal Philippe Barbaran, who was interviewed by Paris Match. According to him, Cardinal Parolin was supposed to ensure "the effective functioning of the administration, but his results are below expectations". His conclusion is categorical: "I believe that Cardinal Parolin, although capable, does not have the prestige expected of a foreign minister, let alone a pope."
Rumors about health problems
A particularly disturbing piece of information about his candidacy was published on April 30 by the American website Catholicvote.org, according to which Cardinal Parolin, 70, suffered an illness during meetings that same day. He reportedly fainted, “causing immediate concern among his fellow cardinals and Vatican staff.” The information, if confirmed, would seriously jeopardize his chances of assuming the throne of Peter. The cardinals would understandably be reluctant to elect a pope whose health has been a cause for concern from the start.
However, according to Italian media outlet Il Sole 24 Ore, this is actually a rumor that could be a destabilizing strategy. There is a precedent: during the 2013 session, similar rumors circulated about Bergoglio's lung health in order to discredit his candidacy. The future Pope Francis finally managed to deny these rumors, at the last minute, before the first vote.
The upcoming conclave is therefore particularly uncertain, with a weakened favorite and behind-the-scenes moves that could reshape the papal landscape in the coming days.
Secret dinners and suspicions
In the shadow of the Conclave that will begin on May 7, a report from the French newspaper Le Monde sheds light on a political-ecclesiastical "thriller" that is unfolding in Rome. According to the investigation, rumors and suspicions abound around French President Emmanuel Macron, who is suspected, according to the Italian right, of trying to influence the election of the new Pope behind the scenes.
Against the backdrop of the informal power of the Catholic community of Sant'Egidio and the strong historical tensions between Paris and Rome, Le Monde describes a complex chain of diplomatic and ecclesiastical maneuvers, aimed, according to suspicions published in the Italian press, at promoting candidates compatible with the values of the French presidency.
The article in question refers to two high-profile meals. First, a lunch at the French embassy in the Vatican, attended by four of the five French cardinals elected, and a dinner at the iconic Dal Bolognese restaurant, where Macron met with the founder of the Sant'Egidio community, Andrea Ricciardi. Both were perceived by the Italian "right-wing" press as an attempt to control the spirit of the Conclave through a "French alliance" behind the scenes.
Newspapers such as La Verità, Libero and Il Tempo openly accused the French president of "interference" and "neo-French imperialism" at the ecclesiastical level, using expressions such as "Macron invades the Conclave" or "behaves like a modern Louis the Sun".
Sant'Egidio: The soft power of Catholic diplomacy
The Community of Sant'Egidio, known for its humanitarian actions and international diplomatic activity, especially in Africa, is considered by many to be one of the most powerful networks of informal influence in Rome.
With a presence in 74 countries and over 70,000 members, it functions as an institutional intermediary and interlocutor for governments, including France.
Macron's close relationship with this community, already confirmed by his presence at a peace conference organized by Sant'Egidio in 2022, has raised concerns among the Italian right, especially given the transitional vacuum left by the death of Pope Francis.
Sources within the movement dismiss the rumors as baseless and characterize the French president's stance as "an attempt to understand the process, not to intervene." / Adapted from Pamphlet/
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