Cardinal Pietro Parolin has been instrumental in reestablishing diplomatic ties between the Vatican and China, including the landmark agreement allowing for the joint appointment of Chinese bishops with Beijing. A measured and diplomatic figure, Parolin is viewed by some critics as leaning too progressive. During the Pope’s recent illness, he garnered attention for leading a public prayer for the pontiff’s recovery—a move that some interpreted as a calculated display amid whispers about a potential papal candidacy.
Despite his longstanding service and international experience, Parolin is sometimes criticized for his bureaucratic style and perceived lack of charisma, particularly when compared to the late Pope. His limited pastoral background has also raised concerns about his suitability for the papacy. Opinions about him are deeply divided: depending on the commentator, Parolin is portrayed either as a stealth progressive cloaking radical reforms in moderate language, or as a quiet conservative whose reserved demeanor hides a more traditionalist outlook.
The College of Cardinals Report, prepared by conservative journalists Edward Pentin and Diane Montagna, describes Parolin as a “subtler” form of progressive who helps present Pope Francis’ more radical reforms in a mainstream light. Meanwhile, a progressive-leaning Church figure told POLITICO that Parolin’s soft-spoken nature masks a much more conservative stance than that of Francis himself—so much so that the Pope may be deliberately sidelining him in anticipation of a future conclave.
Another prominent contender from Italy is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the current Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Originally from Lombardy, Pizzaballa has spent over 30 years in the Holy Land. Fluent in Hebrew and experienced in the region’s complex dynamics—he has acknowledged speaking to Hamas “out of necessity”—Pizzaballa’s deep knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs could prove advantageous for the Vatican.
Pizzaballa has earned a reputation as a direct communicator and ascended quickly through Church ranks, in part due to his alignment with Pope Francis on environmental protection and interfaith dialogue. His relatively low profile in doctrinal disputes makes him something of an enigma, but his support for the Latin Mass has earned him a measure of respect from conservatives.
However, at just 60 years old, Pizzaballa may be seen as too young to assume the papacy, as cardinals often prefer not to elect someone likely to serve for several decades. Even so, a sense of nostalgia among Italian cardinals for an Italian pope may bolster his chances.
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