by Anura Guruge
on October 22, 2023
I agree with MOST of what is in ‘The Pillar‘ article. I have, here, on this blog, articulated many of the same points, e.g., possibility of being Italian, fractured nature of the College, how the overseas cardinals don’t know each other …
Parolin & Zuppi, both born in 1955, are now approaching that MAGIC ’70-year’ threshold which makes them more papabile — in that they are no longer young studs. So, they both have that going for them.
I am NOT sure how HEALTHY Parolin is. He had surgery for liver cancer in 2013. I was SHOCKED when I saw a recent picture. He looks much older than his 68. He is YOUNGER than I, but look old enough to be my father! Not good. Liver cancer is never good. So, that is an issue.
Plus, he is not the pope’s golden boy he once was. THAT IS GOOD & BAD. But that will split the vote.
Zuppi, on the other hand, looks GOOD & full of life. He is also not a curialist. That could make him quite popular among many. He is an OUTSIDER — NOT a Vatican insider. So, right this minute, my druthers is with Zuppi rather than Parolin.
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Yeh, it seems that Parolin is being “marginalized” (odd for a pope who seems to “favor the margins”) within the Secretariat of State, and yet seems to have traction in some quarters as papabile moreso now than say 5 years ago, When he authored the still-secret and extremely lopsided Konkordat with China, effectively selling-out the loyal Catholics in the Chinese (underground) Church for….something undisclosed.
So to my eyes and ears, that is a big DQ for ol’ Pietro. š
Not that Zuppi is anything to write home about either.
Mark, you have told me about Parolin & the Chinese ‘scandal’ before. That is definitely a factor. Have you seen a recent picture of him. He doesn’t look well.
On the other hand Zuppi looks youthful.
My worry is that this LARGE, disparate, dispersed electorate is not going to very very sophisticated. Probably the least experienced electorate in the last 100 years.
So, we could get something similar to the House Speaker. Then going to the run-off.
I am sure, as you will (I think agree), that Parolin & Zuppi will be in the mix — at least up to around round #5. And by then, as with the House, we will move to new territory at a ‘modern’ conclave. You & I will BOTH love it. You, unencumbered, really should dash over to the Vatican for the conclave. You will have a ball.
It will be interesting for sure. It would nice to see some of the more untried procedural features of a Conclave happen next time.
That is, if the synods donāt completely throw out the concept of a āConclaveā (as presently understood), as some have suggestedā¦
We AGAIN agree! Wow. Yes, the pastoral aspect is important. What about Paul VI. He was only out of the curia BRIEFLY. But, I agree with your sentiment.
Plus, I said, overall, that I think Zuppi looks more promising.
Poor Parolin looks old & tired — just like the current pope. Poor guy. His cancer must still be around.
But, per one of my posts … NO CONCLAVE in 2023.
Maybe not even in 2024.
Pax.