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Herald Malaysia
a day ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal Zuppi: Pope Leo XIV asks us to make every community a 'home of peace'
Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, speaks to Vatican News about Pope Leo XIV's invitation to develop a pastoral approach to peace in all Dioceses. Jul 13, 2025 Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference By Andrea Tornielli and Andrea MondaFollowing a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to the Holy See, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, or CEI, visited the headquarters of Vatican News for an interview on the theme of peace. The wide-ranging conversation begins with the words spoken by Pope Leo XIV on 17 June, when he received the CEI in the Vatican. On that occasion, the Pope offered a precise and profoundly timely clear instruction in light of the current era we are living, asking all Dioceses to develop a pastoral ministry focused on peace. Q: Cardinal Zuppi, Pope Leo expressed appreciation for the 'schools of peace' initiative, an experience that already belongs to some Dioceses, but he specified that this is, in a certain sense, an urgent task for everyone. How did you receive the Pope's words, and what, concretely, is being considered to put them into practice? It is important, and I thank you for this, to find moments of dialogue, to be able to discuss these themes which today I would say are decisive and dramatic; because we cannot limit ourselves to an academic discussion on peace, which in the end would be a dialogue among those who are comfortable and are discussing how to be more comfortable; no, this is a tragic discussion, confronted with the many wars, with terrible violence, with the logic of rearmament—that is, of fueling wars—the logic of thinking that weapons are the only way to prevent war or to bring about peace. Thus, I would say that the Pope's invitation clashes with a situation that only the irresponsible can consider sustainable, and at times, it seems to me that there are irresponsible people, that there are those who, for example, always think that in the end everything will go well, who do not confront reality. And so, it would be irresponsible not to pose the problem of peace, while the Pope, as a responsible person, has asked us to make every community a 'home of peace.' He used this very concrete and very effective expression: "home of peace." What, then, is the commitment? First and foremost, it is that of prayer. As the Permanent Council of the CEI, on this point, we have indicated the occasion of Pentecost and, starting from there, the need to find other occasions as well to involve all our communities; Pentecost, in fact, is a moment to gather together, all nations united by the Spirit—the exact opposite of Babel—and we wanted this moment to become a great invocation for peace. Therefore, prayer, and then welcome and solidarity. In welcoming, in fact, there is the antidote to violence, to war; and on the other hand, solidarity is indispensable to help those who are overwhelmed by the storm of war. I'll give an example that involved many Caritas organizations with so much joy on the part of those welcomed and those who welcome: the children who came from Ukraine for a period of peace, a moment of peace away from war. And in particular I think of those who were received and welcomed by the children of the Estate Ragazzi [Summer Camp] of the Holy See in the Vatican, the beautiful initiative that has existed for years for the children of employees, thanks to the work of Father Franco Fontana. Not by chance, President Zelensky thanked the Pope for this welcome. Q: The parish as a "home of peace" that can also be a 'school of peace:' is education, then, the fundamental path, the one that cannot be evaded, for building peace? Certainly, this is a beautiful message from the Day of Peace: education as the 'name of peace.' Also because—one must be attentive—today, unfortunately, there is an education to war, which is that of violence, of hatred, of ignorance, of prejudice... I think of the 'keyboard warriors'; in my opinion, this is a form of literacy, of education to war. War, in fact, is never something that arrives suddenly, it is not a lightning bolt—if it is a lightning bolt, it is something that arises in an environment, and that happens because that environment has already overheated, has already been electrified, it has not received, precisely, the education to peace, which is exactly doing the opposite: making people know one another, creating bonds, respect, attentiveness, networks of encounter. I believe it is very important, for a "home of peace," to engage daily in a small training exercise to counter the process that leads to the creation of 'keyboard warriors' and instead initiate opposite processes in schools, in after-school programs, in parishes. I think of the beautiful examples of many after-school programs or many Italian language schools. Many parishes, many communities organize these schools because language is also the first way to make someone feel at home, to give them the key to the house. Or I think of those children and young people who are, paradoxically, still considered foreigners when in fact they are the classmates of our own children, and so it should be our natural duty to help them, protect them, help them catch up where they are disadvantaged, obviously due to the environmental situation of their families. These signs that I see in many places, I believe, are the beginnings of that necessary 'literacy' to create schools of peace. They are realities that live and foster encounter, the understanding of what is happening, because in reality there is so much ignorance and, therefore, so much polarization. We must therefore press the pedal of education, of knowledge, and thus of good information. Q: War is not a lightning bolt, it never begins with the pulling of a trigger, but much earlier—it begins in the heart of man and has to do precisely with the hatred that grows, that is fomented. In this sense, the schools of peace open the way to possibilities of dialogue, of encounter, of fraternity, of mutual welcome, of not being afraid of the other—in short, to all the possible paths of peace. Pope Leo XIV, in speaking about peace, entered into a sphere that refers to the Church's social doctrine. At times, one hears the criticism of those who maintain that instead of these themes, one should focus on the proclamation of the Gospel, that one should speak of God—as if dealing with and committing to these fronts were to take something away from the purity of faith and proclamation. I think of the commitment of the Popes, of the encyclicals of Pope Francis— Laudato si' and Fratelli tutti , of the issue of the environment which Pope Leo has reminded us of very forcefully in these days—and yet these are seen as though they were 'optional' aspects, which the Church may deal with, but also may not. But doesn't this reduce faith to something disembodied? Doesn't this evade the profoundly evangelical root of all this commitment? The root is clear and lies in the fact that the Gospel enters into history and does not lead us out of history. What is the Church supposed to do? What does it do? It speaks of Christ; what has Pope Francis done? He has done nothing other than speak of Christ—he said so from the beginning in Evangelii Gaudium , where the first word points directly to the kerygma , the proclamation of Christ. And to speak of Christ means to enter into history because there is a very close bond between evangelization and human promotion, between the Eucharistic table and the table of the poor, between preparing the Eucharistic table and preparing the tables of attentiveness to others. This union between love and truth, between evangelization and human promotion, must never be missing. Sometimes human promotion comes a little first, and then one understands the Gospel; sometimes the Gospel comes first, and then you realize, your eyes open and you say to yourself: but I must love the least brother, understand that Jesus is in him—it is He whom I must visit, welcome, clothe, and I must try to remove the cause for which he is in that condition, without clothes. Between these two actions there is a profound unity. Sometimes the synchrony is not perfect, and there is a need to bring the two timings together, but the two timings are like those of the heart—the two heartbeats, systole and extrasystole: they go together. Love and truth, evangelization and human promotion are the two beats of the heart of the Church. Q: Let's return to Pope Leo XIV's words about making parishes into "homes of peace." Can this invitation also be an opportunity to reflect on the nature of the parish, on its destiny, and on the need for change that must also affect the parish? Yes, certainly, and I believe that parishes are already changing, especially in the central and northern parts of our country. By now, the single parish, in the singular, tends to be almost rare—rather, they are generally always parishes in the plural, and this also helps to grow in communion. 'My single parish' no longer exists. The point, however, is that the parish must truly be a home, and instead, sometimes we run the risk—we must acknowledge this—that parishes are anonymous places. The great challenge is to weave fraternity, to build community, to foster knowledge, the capacity for relationships. How many times have we insisted on the theme of relationship, which, however, does not mean self-help groups. It is not just 'spending time together,' it is not a condominium, but indeed a home. I deliberately use an expression dear to Pope Francis: a home where everyone can feel at home. I believe this is the great challenge of all times, and today I would say even more so, in a world that isolates and pits us against one another. In Italy, one out of three households is composed of a single person—a number that is increasing—while the decline in birthrates often reduces the home to a studio apartment. The Church, then, should be a place where the table is always large, and where everyone, even those who are alone, can find the place where they discover that, in reality, they have many brothers and sisters. Q: Two months have passed since the election of Pope Leo, an election that was in some ways surprising. Even from a secular point of view, one should be honest and admit that there is something that escapes human explanation and is inexplicable. Indeed, the question arises of how it had been possible that 133 people, of different origins and languages, most of whom had never met, could, in less than 24 hours, elect the Bishop of Rome with such a broad majority. Starting from this historical fact, let's also talk about these first two months of the pontificate… I too share this reflection—to put it humorously: our algorithm is always the best, it's unbeatable. The Spirit is the algorithm that sums them all up. Joking aside, I would say that undoubtedly this election has been a source of great joy—the joy of being able to give an answer to the expectation in a very, very short time. These two months seem to me marked by much gentleness, much determination, and a desire to resume the journey—just as always happens with change. Tradition in the Church is something extraordinary, because it always manages, just as it must, to transmit what one has—in continuity, but at the same time, obviously, also in the differences proper to each Pope. I would say to each person: what applies to each of us also applies to every Pope. That's why it seems to me that these have been truly important months, which also take place within the context of the appointments of the Holy Year—this time filled with intense moments of sharing, of encounter, in which we are together also physically, resuming the journey together. In this context, we accompany Pope Leo with our friendship, with our prayer above all, and with obedience. Because when I say that everyone must obey the Pope, I'm saying something true and important. Then there will be those who have a kind of obedience—how shall we say—a bit peculiar, that says: 'Yes, okay, but only for what I agree with.' But that doesn't work. One must always obey the Pope. To obey and be with him, making him feel our closeness, and I repeat, in this context of the Jubilee, to seize the opportunity for everyone to understand the beauty of our journey, of this Jubilee that prepares for hope, that brings us hope. In a world like today's, I believe that the Holy Year, the Jubilee of Hope, is truly a great opportunity, to be lived with Pope Leo.--Vatican News
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Potential successors to Pope Francis
VATICAN CITY: With no official campaign nor list of candidates and an election process shrouded in secrecy, speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis after the conclave beginning Wednesday is just that -- speculation. But here are 15 cardinals who are among the potential favourites to succeed Pope Francis -- so-called 'papabili' -- divided by region. Europe Pietro Parolin (Italy), Francis's number two at the Vatican Parolin, 70, was secretary of state -- the Vatican's effective number two -- during almost all of Francis's pontificate and its most visible exponent on the world stage. Known for his calm and subtle sense of humour, the polyglot also has a fine grasp of the intricacies of the Roman Curia, the Holy See's central government, and was part of a group of cardinal advisers to Francis. He is currently considered one of the leading candidates to become the next pope. Parolin played a key role in a landmark -- and controversial -- 2018 Vatican agreement with China on naming bishops. Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pizzaballa, 60, is the top Catholic in the Middle East with an archdiocese encompassing Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Cyprus. He was made a cardinal in September 2023, shortly before the war broke out between Israel and Hamas. The Franciscan has appealed for peace from both sides, and at Christmas in 2024 led mass in both Gaza and Jerusalem. Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy), Archbishop of Bologna A member of the Roman lay community of Sant'Egidio, Zuppi has for more than three decades acted as a discreet diplomat for the Vatican including serving as Pope Francis's special peace envoy for Ukraine. Known for riding his bicycle around Bologna, 69-year-old Zuppi is a popular figure for his decades of work on behalf of the needy. He also advocates for welcoming migrants and gay Catholics into the Church. He has been president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) since 2022. Cristobal Lopez Romero (Spain), Archbishop of Rabat Spanish-born Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, 72, has spent decades of his career in South America and has Paraguayan nationality. He is now based in Morocco, in majority-Muslim North Africa. Lopez is seen by some as a successor to Francis due to his support for migrant rights and inter-faith dialogue, while his career is emblematic of the late pontiff's push into the Catholic Church's 'peripheries'. But Lopez himself told AFP that the new pope 'doesn't necessarily have to be a Francis mark II, a Francis impersonator'. Francis named Lopez an archbishop in 2017 and promoted him to cardinal in 2019. Jean-Marc Aveline (France), Archbishop of Marseille Born in Algeria, 66-year-old Aveline has spent most of his life in the French port city of Marseille. Like his close friend Pope Francis, he has been a voice for welcoming migrants and promoting interreligious dialogue. Appreciated for his discretion, intellectual abilities and people skills, Aveline has carved out a reputation as a cardinal to watch since his elevation in 2022. Anders Arborelius (Sweden), Bishop of Stockholm Appointed in 2017 as Sweden's first cardinal, Arborelius is a convert to Catholicism in the overwhelmingly Protestant Scandinavian country, home to one of the world's most secularised societies. He is the first Swedish Catholic bishop since the Protestant Reformation and a staunch defender of Church doctrine, notably opposed to allowing women to be deacons or blessing same-sex couples. Like Francis, 75-year-old Arborelius advocates welcoming migrants to Europe, including Christians, Catholics and potential converts. Mario Grech (Malta), Bishop Emeritus of Gozo Born into a small village on the tiny Mediterranean archipelago of Malta, 68-year-old Grech is a peace broker and potential compromise candidate for the papacy. He was secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, a body that gathers information from local churches on crucial issues for the Church -- such as the place of women or divorced spouses who remarry -- and passes it onto the pope. He had to perform a delicate balancing act following Pope Francis's lead on creating an open, attentive Church while acknowledging the concerns of conservatives. Peter Erdo (Hungary), Metropolitan Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest An intellectual and respected expert in canon law, Erdo speaks seven languages, has published more than 25 books and is recognised for his openness to other religions. But the 72-year-old has faced criticism for his ties with the government of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose harsh views on migration clashed with those of Francis. Known for his enthusiasm for evangelism, Erdo -- who grew up under Communism -- is a conservative on such issues as gay marriage and the divorced who remarry. Jose Tolentino de Mendonca (Portugal), prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education A Portuguese theologian and poet, Tolentino has led the Vatican's dicastery, or department, of culture and education since 2022. A former archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, the 59-year-old was made a cardinal by Francis in 2019. Regarded as progressive within the Church, his stance on welcoming homosexuals has earned him the hostility of some conservatives. With a doctorate in biblical theology, he has published books and articles on theology as well as poetic works, which have earned him several literary awards. Asia Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila Tagle, Asia's front-runner for the papacy, is a charismatic moderate who has not been afraid to criticise the Church for its shortcomings, including over the sexual abuse of minors. Fluent in English and active on social media, the 67-year-old is an eloquent speaker with self-deprecating humour and, like Francis, a leading advocate for the poor, migrants and marginalised people. Nicknamed 'Chito', he was made a cardinal by Benedict XVI in 2012 and was already considered a candidate for pope in the 2013 conclave in which Francis was elected. Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), Archbishop of Yangon Myanmar-born Bo became the Buddhist-majority country's first and only cardinal in 2015, appointed by Francis. Bo has called for dialogue and reconciliation in his conflict-ridden country, and after the military coup of 2021 appealed to opposition protesters to remain non-violent. The 76-year-old has defended the mainly Muslim Rohingya, calling them victims of 'ethnic cleansing', and spoken out against human trafficking uprooting the lives of many young Burmese. He was head of the Federation of Asians Bishops' Conferences (FABC) between 2019 and 2024. Malcolm Ranjith (Sri Lanka), Archbishop of Colombo Sri Lanka's conservative Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has long been considered a dark horse for the papacy, but his credentials were boosted in the wake of the island's worst terrorist attack in 2019. The 77-year-old Sinhalese prelate has pursued a campaign in the ensuing years, petitioning the United Nations and the international community for justice over the suicide bombings of Easter Sunday in April 2019 that killed 279 civilians. Ranjith's efforts have placed the 167 Catholic victims of the attacks on the path to sainthood, after the Vatican declared them 'Witnesses of the Faith' last month. A former papal nunio, or ambassador, to Indonesia and East Timor, Ranjith was made a cardinal in 2010 by Benedict XVI. He is considered a traditionalist who has prohibited cultural practices borrowed from other religions, and supports the Latin Mass. Africa Peter Turkson (Ghana), Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast One of the Church's most influential cardinals from Africa, 76-year-old Turkson has for years been mentioned as a possible first black pope. Made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003, the multilingual Turkson has been a papal envoy and mediator, including in South Sudan. He also served between 2016 and 2021 as the first head of a top Vatican department, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which deals with human rights and migrants, among other issues. Born into a humble family of 10 children, Turkson has criticised anti-gay legislation in Uganda, but defends Catholic sexual morality and has denied that homosexuality is a human rights issue. Robert Sarah (Guinea), former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Had Francis lived a few more months, conservative prelate Robert Sarah, who turns 80 on June 16, would have been too old to join the conclave to choose his successor. As it is, though, he has found himself championed by conservative Catholics in the French-speaking world as a candidate to turn the clock back on progressive reforms. An ardent opponent of what he called in 2015 'Western ideologies on homosexuality and abortion and Islamic fanaticism', he denounced Francis's 2023 text that paved the way for the blessing of same-sex couples. Experts believe his views make him too conservative to win a two-thirds majority at the conclave -- but even a possible candidacy has boosted his profile. Americas Robert Francis Prevost (United States), Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo A native of Chicago, Prevost was in 2023 appointed prefect of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which is charged with advising the pope on appointments of new bishops. The 69-year-old spent years as a missionary in Peru and is the Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo in the South American country. Made a cardinal by Francis in 2023, he is also the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
16 potential successors to Pope Francis
With no official campaigning or list of candidates and the election process shrouded in secrecy, speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis after the conclave beginning this week remains just that - speculation. But here are 15 cardinals who are among the potential favourites to succeed Pope Francis - so-called "papabili" - divided by region. Europe - Pietro Parolin (Italy), 70, Francis's number two at the Vatican Parolin was secretary of state - the Vatican's effective number two - for almost Francis's entire pontificate, and its most visible exponent on the world stage. Known for his calm and subtle sense of humour, the polyglot also has a fine grasp of the intricacies of the Roman Curia, the Holy See's central government, and was part of a group of cardinal advisers to Francis. He is currently considered the frontrunner to become the next pope. He played a key role in a landmark - and controversial - 2018 Vatican agreement with China on naming bishops. - Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), 60, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pizzaballa is the top Catholic in the Middle East with an archdiocese encompassing Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Cyprus. He was made a cardinal in September 2023, shortly before the war broke out between Israel and Hamas. The Franciscan has appealed for peace from both sides, and at Christmas in 2024 led mass in both Gaza and Jerusalem. - Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy), 69, Archbishop of Bologna A member of the Roman community of Sant'Egidio, Zuppi has for more than three decades acted as a discreet diplomat for the Vatican including serving as Pope Francis's special peace envoy for Ukraine. Known for riding his bicycle around Bologna, Zuppi is a popular figure for his decades of work on behalf of the needy. He also advocates for welcoming migrants and gay Catholics into the Church. He has been president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) since 2022. - Claudio Gugerotti (Italy), 69 An academic and multi-lingual diplomat from the Italian city of Verona, Gugerotti is an expert on the Eastern Churches. He has served as nuncio - or ambassador of the Holy See - in several countries, including from 2002 in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, later in Belarus, and then from 2015 to 2020 in Ukraine. The author of several books, Gugerotti largely avoids commenting on controversial issues. He was named Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in 2022, and was made a cardinal in 2023. - Jean-Marc Aveline (France), 66, Archbishop of Marseille Born in Algeria, Aveline has spent most of his life in the French port city of Marseille. Like his close friend Pope Francis, he has been a voice for welcoming migrants and promoting interreligious dialogue. Appreciated for his discretion, intellectual abilities and people skills, Aveline has carved out a reputation as a cardinal to watch since his elevation in 2022. - Anders Arborelius (Sweden), 75, Bishop of Stockholm Appointed in 2017 as Sweden's first cardinal, Arborelius is a convert to Catholicism in the overwhelmingly Protestant Scandinavian country, home to one of the world's most secularised societies. He is the first Swedish Catholic bishop since the Protestant Reformation and a staunch defender of Church doctrine, notably opposed to allowing women to be deacons or blessing same-sex couples. Like Pope Francis, Arborelius advocates welcoming migrants to Europe, including Christians, Catholics and potential converts. - Mario Grech (Malta), 68, Bishop emeritus of Gozo Born into a small village on the tiny Mediterranean archipelago of Malta, Grech is a peace broker and potential compromise candidate for the papacy. He was secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, a body that gathers information from local churches on crucial issues for the Church - such as the place of women or remarried divorcees - and passes it onto the pope. He had to perform a delicate balancing act, following Pope Francis's lead on creating an open, attentive Church while acknowledging the concerns of conservatives. - Peter Erdo (Hungary), 72, Metropolitan Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest An intellectual and respected expert in canon law, Erdo speaks seven languages, has published more than 25 books and is recognised for his openness to other religions. But he has faced criticism for his ties with the government of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose harsh views on migration clashed with those of the late Argentine pope. Known for his enthusiasm for evangelism, Erdo -- who grew up under Communism -- is a conservative on such issues as gay marriage and divorcees who remarry. - Jean-Claude Hollerich, 66, Archbishop of Luxembourg A Jesuit like Pope Francis, Hollerich spent more than 20 years in Japan, and is a specialist in European-Asian cultural relations as well as German literature. Firm on dogma, the theologian is still open to the need for the Church to adapt to societal changes, much like the Argentine pope he was close to and for whom he served as an adviser on the Council of Cardinals. Hollerich has advocated for the environment and has pushed for laypeople, especially young people, to have more involvement in the Church. Asia - Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), 67, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila Tagle, Asia's frontrunner for the papacy, is a charismatic moderate who has not been afraid to criticise the Church for its shortcomings, including over the sexual abuse of minors. Fluent in English and active on social media, he is an eloquent speaker with self-deprecating humour and, like Francis, is a leading advocate for the poor, migrants and marginalised people. Nicknamed "Chito", he was made a cardinal by Benedict XVI in 2012 and had already been considered a candidate for pope in the 2013 conclave in which Francis was elected. - Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), 76, Archbishop of Yangon Myanmar-born Bo became the Buddhist-majority country's first and only cardinal in 2015, appointed by Pope Francis. Bo has called for dialogue and reconciliation in conflict-ridden Myanmar, and after the military coup of 2021 appealed to opposition protesters to remain non-violent. He has defended the mainly Muslim Rohingya, calling them victims of "ethnic cleansing", and spoken out against human trafficking uprooting the lives of many young Burmese. He was head of the Federation of Asians Bishops' Conferences (FABC) between 2019 and 2024. Africa - Peter Turkson (Ghana), 76, Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast One of the Church's most influential cardinals from Africa, Turkson has for years been mentioned as a possible first black pope. Made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003, the multi-lingual Turkson has been a papal envoy and mediator, including in South Sudan. He also served between 2016 and 2021 as head of a top Vatican department, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which deals with human rights and migration among other issues. Born into a humble family of 10 children, Turkson has criticised anti-gay legislation in Uganda, but defends Catholic sexual morality and has denied that homosexuality is a human rights issue. Robert Sarah (Guinea), 79, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Had Pope Francis lived a few more months, conservative prelate Robert Sarah - who turns 80 on 16 June - would have been too old to join the conclave or to succeed him. As it is, though, he has found himself championed by conservative Catholics in the French-speaking world as a candidate to turn the clock back on progressive reforms. An ardent opponent of what he in 2015 called "Western ideologies on homosexuality and abortion and Islamic fanaticism", he denounced a 2024 text that paved the way for the blessing of same-sex couples. Experts believe his views make him too conservative to win a two-thirds majority at the conclave, but even a possible candidacy has boosted his profile. - Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of Congo), 65, Archbishop of Kinshasa Ambongo was the only cardinal from Africa on Pope Francis's advisory council of cardinals, and is the leader of the association of African bishops, SECAM. Born in 1960, the year of DRC's independence from Belgium, he has been a strong voice for peace in his conflict-ridden country - and is outspoken in his conservative views. He notably signed a letter in January 2024 voicing opposition to the Vatican's declaration allowing priests to carry out non-liturgical blessings of same-sex unions. In a 2023 interview, Ambongo - who some believe could be his continent's first pope - proclaimed that "Africa is the future of the Church, it's obvious". Americas - Robert Francis Prevost (United States), 69, Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo A native of Chicago, Prevost was in 2023 appointed prefect of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which is charged with advising the pope on appointments of new bishops. He spent years as a missionary in Peru and is the Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo in that South American country. Made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, he is also the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. - Timothy Dolan (United States), 75, Archbishop of New York A jovial, ruddy-faced extrovert with Irish-American roots, Dolan is a theological conservative, fiercely opposed to abortion. The former archbishop of Milwaukee, he oversaw the fallout from a major sexual abuse scandal in the diocese. In New York, amid shrinking Church membership, Dolan has reached out to embrace the growing Hispanic population, which is predominantly Catholic.
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Who Will Be The Next Pope? List Of 16 Prospective Successors
Vatican City: With no official campaigning or list of candidates and the election process shrouded in secrecy, speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis after the conclave beginning this week remains just that -- speculation. But here are 16 cardinals who are among the potential favourites to succeed Pope Francis -- so-called "papabili" -- divided by region. Europe Pietro Parolin (Italy), 70, Francis's number two at the Vatican Parolin was secretary of state -- the Vatican's effective number two -- for almost Francis's entire pontificate, and its most visible exponent on the world stage. Known for his calm and subtle sense of humour, the polyglot also has a fine grasp of the intricacies of the Roman Curia, the Holy See's central government, and was part of a group of cardinal advisers to Francis. He is currently considered the frontrunner to become the next pope. He played a key role in a landmark -- and controversial -- 2018 Vatican agreement with China on naming bishops. Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), 60, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pizzaballa is the top Catholic in the Middle East with an archdiocese encompassing Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Cyprus. He was made a cardinal in September 2023, shortly before the war broke out between Israel and Hamas. The Franciscan has appealed for peace from both sides, and at Christmas in 2024 led mass in both Gaza and Jerusalem. Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy), 69, Archbishop of Bologna A member of the Roman community of Sant'Egidio, Zuppi has for more than three decades acted as a discreet diplomat for the Vatican including serving as Pope Francis's special peace envoy for Ukraine. Known for riding his bicycle around Bologna, Zuppi is a popular figure for his decades of work on behalf of the needy. He also advocates for welcoming migrants and gay Catholics into the Church. He has been president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) since 2022. Claudio Gugerotti (Italy), 69 An academic and multi-lingual diplomat from the Italian city of Verona, Gugerotti is an expert on the Eastern Churches. He has served as nuncio -- or ambassador of the Holy See -- in several countries, including from 2002 in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, later in Belarus, and then from 2015 to 2020 in Ukraine. The author of several books, Gugerotti largely avoids commenting on controversial issues. He was named Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in 2022, and was made a cardinal in 2023. Jean-Marc Aveline (France), 66, Archbishop of Marseille Born in Algeria, Aveline has spent most of his life in the French port city of Marseille. Like his close friend Pope Francis, he has been a voice for welcoming migrants and promoting interreligious dialogue. Appreciated for his discretion, intellectual abilities and people skills, Aveline has carved out a reputation as a cardinal to watch since his elevation in 2022. Anders Arborelius (Sweden), 75, Bishop of Stockholm Appointed in 2017 as Sweden's first cardinal, Arborelius is a convert to Catholicism in the overwhelmingly Protestant Scandinavian country, home to one of the world's most secularised societies. He is the first Swedish Catholic bishop since the Protestant Reformation and a staunch defender of Church doctrine, notably opposed to allowing women to be deacons or blessing same-sex couples. Like Pope Francis, Arborelius advocates welcoming migrants to Europe, including Christians, Catholics and potential converts. Mario Grech (Malta), 68, Bishop emeritus of Gozo Born into a small village on the tiny Mediterranean archipelago of Malta, Grech is a peace broker and potential compromise candidate for the papacy. He was secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, a body that gathers information from local churches on crucial issues for the Church -- such as the place of women or remarried divorcees - and passes it onto the pope. He had to perform a delicate balancing act, following Pope Francis's lead on creating an open, attentive Church while acknowledging the concerns of conservatives. Peter Erdo (Hungary), 72, Metropolitan Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest An intellectual and respected expert in canon law, Erdo speaks seven languages, has published more than 25 books and is recognised for his openness to other religions. But he has faced criticism for his ties with the government of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose harsh views on migration clashed with those of the late Argentine pope. Known for his enthusiasm for evangelism, Erdo -- who grew up under Communism -- is a conservative on such issues as gay marriage and divorcees who remarry. Jean-Claude Hollerich, 66, Archbishop of Luxembourg A Jesuit like Pope Francis, Hollerich spent more than 20 years in Japan, and is a specialist in European-Asian cultural relations as well as German literature. Firm on dogma, the theologian is still open to the need for the Church to adapt to societal changes, much like the Argentine pope he was close to and for whom he served as an adviser on the Council of Cardinals. Hollerich has advocated for the environment and has pushed for laypeople, especially young people, to have more involvement in the Church. Asia Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), 67, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila Tagle, Asia's frontrunner for the papacy, is a charismatic moderate who has not been afraid to criticise the Church for its shortcomings, including over the sexual abuse of minors. Fluent in English and active on social media, he is an eloquent speaker with self-deprecating humour and, like Francis, is a leading advocate for the poor, migrants and marginalised people. Nicknamed "Chito", he was made a cardinal by Benedict XVI in 2012 and had already been considered a candidate for pope in the 2013 conclave in which Francis was elected. Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), 76, Archbishop of Yangon Myanmar-born Bo became the Buddhist-majority country's first and only cardinal in 2015, appointed by Pope Francis. Bo has called for dialogue and reconciliation in conflict-ridden Myanmar, and after the military coup of 2021 appealed to opposition protesters to remain non-violent. He has defended the mainly Muslim Rohingya, calling them victims of "ethnic cleansing", and spoken out against human trafficking uprooting the lives of many young Burmese. He was head of the Federation of Asians Bishops' Conferences (FABC) between 2019 and 2024. Africa Peter Turkson (Ghana), 76, Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast One of the Church's most influential cardinals from Africa, Turkson has for years been mentioned as a possible first black pope. Made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003, the multi-lingual Turkson has been a papal envoy and mediator, including in South Sudan. He also served between 2016 and 2021 as head of a top Vatican department, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which deals with human rights and migration among other issues. Born into a humble family of 10 children, Turkson has criticised anti-gay legislation in Uganda, but defends Catholic sexual morality and has denied that homosexuality is a human rights issue. Robert Sarah (Guinea), 79, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Had Pope Francis lived a few more months, conservative prelate Robert Sarah -- who turns 80 on June 16 -- would have been too old to join the conclave or to succeed him. As it is, though, he has found himself championed by conservative Catholics in the French-speaking world as a candidate to turn the clock back on progressive reforms. An ardent opponent of what he in 2015 called "Western ideologies on homosexuality and abortion and Islamic fanaticism", he denounced a 2024 text that paved the way for the blessing of same-sex couples. Experts believe his views make him too conservative to win a two-thirds majority at the conclave, but even a possible candidacy has boosted his profile. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of Congo), 65, Archbishop of Kinshasa Ambongo was the only cardinal from Africa on Pope Francis's advisory council of cardinals, and is the leader of the association of African bishops, SECAM. Born in 1960, the year of DRC's independence from Belgium, he has been a strong voice for peace in his conflict-ridden country -- and is outspoken in his conservative views. He notably signed a letter in January 2024 voicing opposition to the Vatican's declaration allowing priests to carry out non-liturgical blessings of same-sex unions. In a 2023 interview, Ambongo -- who some believe could be his continent's first pope -- proclaimed that "Africa is the future of the Church, it's obvious". Americas Robert Francis Prevost (United States), 69, Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo A native of Chicago, Prevost was in 2023 appointed prefect of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which is charged with advising the pope on appointments of new bishops. He spent years as a missionary in Peru and is the Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo in that South American country. Made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, he is also the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Timothy Dolan (United States), 75, Archbishop of New York A jovial, ruddy-faced extrovert with Irish-American roots, Dolan is a theological conservative, fiercely opposed to abortion. The former archbishop of Milwaukee, he oversaw the fallout from a major sexual abuse scandal in the diocese. In New York, amid shrinking Church membership, Dolan has reached out to embrace the growing Hispanic population, which is predominantly Catholic.
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Business Standard
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Who will be the next Pope? Italians try to predict with 'Fantapapa' game
With traditional betting on the next Pope discouraged in Italy, thousands of Italians are turning to a unique online game called 'Fantapapa', inspired by fantasy sports leagues, reported Reuters. As cardinals prepare for the secret conclave beginning May 7 to elect Pope Francis 's successor, international gambling companies are offering odds on potential candidates. But in the Vatican's homeland, no licenced platform is allowing such bets. Instead, Fantapapa has captured public attention. The game allows users to select a fantasy team of 11 papal contenders—or papabili—and earn points when their chosen cardinals appear in the media. Bonus points are awarded if a pick becomes the new pope or if players correctly predict the name the pontiff adopts. 'As of now [Cardinal Matteo] Zuppi is the preferred candidate and, notably, most of the followers on our Instagram profile are women,' said Pietro Pace, one of the game's co-creators, in an interview with Reuters. Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, is a prominent figure in the country and a serious contender. Pace, an AI architect at Microsoft, teamed up with Mauro Vanetti, a video game developer, to build Fantapapa. They began working on the project in February when Pope Francis was hospitalised. The game—free and ad-free—launched shortly after the Pope's passing on April 21. This week, it neared 60,000 users. 'There are no prizes, it's just for fun and for eternal glory,' Pace said. Italy out, world bets in While Italy avoids turning the papal election into a betting spectacle, international markets are heating up. On Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction site, over $10 million has been wagered on the next pope. In contrast, a potential US Federal Reserve decision in May has drawn nearly $30 million in bets. British gambling group William Hill is already naming frontrunners. 'There's already plenty of speculation on the next Pope, and currently we make the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, our favourite at 9/4,' said Lee Phelps, a spokesperson for the company. 'Luis Antonio Tagle is second in our market at 3/1 and would become the first Asian Pope in history, while Matteo Zuppi and Peter Turkson are both priced at 6/1,' Phelps added. Legal grey area for betting in Italy Although technically legal, betting on papal elections is frowned upon in Italy. 'In Italy there is no law expressly prohibiting betting on the election of the pope,' explained Nicola Tani, head of Agipronews, a specialised media outlet. 'However, the Customs Agency, which authorises bets, has informally asked gaming licensees to avoid offering odds on the papal election, just like they do for Italian political races,' Tani said.
