The truth is no one really knows what to expect from the conclave. Due to being both a divine and human event, papal conclaves are usually almost impossible to predict.
Newsroom (07/05/2025 08:15, Gaudium Press) An often heard phrase is he who enters the conclave as a pope leaves as a cardinal. Another Roman phase is “A fat pope follows a thin one” this adage in the Catholic Church describing a perceived trend that conclaves tend to counterbalance the preceding pope with one having different ideological emphases.
Yet many Catholic’s like to try to guess at which cardinal could become the pope. We review here some of the papabili.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
Franciscan Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the patriarch of Jerusalem, has a personality rooted in his simple, rural Lombardy upbringing, which instilled in him a sense of sobriety and sincerity that later found fulfillment in Franciscan life. Little is known about the cardinal’s theology or doctrinal positions partly because he rarely addresses controversial issues, but it is possible to discern a genuine desire to abide by the orthodox traditions and practices of the Church while remaining open to modernity.
1. Background & Path to the Cardinalate
Born: April 21, 1965, in Cologno al Serio, Italy.
Franciscan Roots: Joined the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) in 1984, ordained in 1990.
Holy Land Expertise: Lived in Jerusalem since 1999; fluent in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.
Key Roles:
Custos of the Holy Land (2004–2016): Oversaw Franciscan sites in Israel/Palestine.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (2020–present): First Franciscan in this role since 1342.
Cardinal: Elevated by Pope Francis in September 2023.
2. Theological & Pastoral Approach
Interfaith Bridge-Builder: Promotes Christian-Muslim-Jewish dialogue in a volatile region. The patriarch has been supportive of the Pope’s 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti (Brothers All), and his controversial “Human Fraternity” document signed in 2019 by Pope Francis and the grand imam of Al-Azhar University. Such gestures have had an “enormous impact” on Arab public consciousness even if, Patriarch Pizzaballa said with characteristic frankness, no one in the Arab world reads such documents.
Moderate Voice: Avoids political alignment but advocates for peace and coexistence.
Liturgical Traditionalism: Respects Latin and Eastern rites (serves Melkite Greek Catholics). Asked in a 2020 interview what he has learned from the Orthodox tradition in particular, Cardinal Pizzaballa said: “I have learned a lot. First and foremost, a sense of the sacred which we Catholics have lost somewhat. Our liturgies are very ‘social’, if I may use the term. Not always, certainly, but instead in the Orthodox world, the sense of the sacred is very strong, the spiritual life, fasting.
Synodality: Supports lay involvement but upholds hierarchical Church structure.
3. Diplomatic Challenges in the Holy Land
Israeli-Palestinian Tensions: Balances pastoral care for both communities amid conflict.
Gaza War (2023–24): Called for ceasefires, humanitarian aid, and protection of Christians. On October 7, 2023, just one week after the consistory, the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted, following an attack in Israel by Hamas militiamen from Gaza. Two weeks later, the Patriarch called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace, just after having said he was ready to offer himself as a hostage in exchange for the release of the children who had fallen into the hands of Hamas terrorists.
Vatican’s Mediator: Often liaises between local authorities and the Holy See.
4. Controversies & Criticism
Neutrality Dilemmas: Some accuse him of being too cautious in condemning Israeli or Palestinian actions. None the less Pizzaballa is held in high esteem in Tel Aviv, despite now being one of the most influential voices to lament the situation of civilians in Gaza and call for a ceasefire.
Declining Christian Presence: Struggles to stem emigration of Arab Christians from the region.
5. Relationship with Pope Francis
Trusted Implementer: Seen as a pragmatic executor of Francis’s Middle East policies. Cardinals are no longer seen as Princes of the Church, he has said echoing Francis’ sentiment, but rather “its servants and those of the people of God.”
He has a disdain for clericalism and a concern for migrants, interreligious dialogue and, to some extent, the environment. But he also has some important yet subtle differences. Like Francis, he wants the Church to be open to everyone but he believes “this doesn’t mean that it belongs to everyone.” He stresses the importance of social justice, rights and duties but underlines that the “starting point has to be the faith.” And he is a firm believer that changes in the Church are nothing to fear because it is not man who makes the Church “but Christ [who] leads it.”
Conclusion
He is also not closed off to parts of the Church that are growing. Liberal in the classical sense, he sees the old rite as one among the many diverse rites in the Church and so allows it. Liturgically, he appears to lean towards tradition, always favoring the centrality of the Eucharist, although he reportedly restricted the Traditional Latin Mass after Traditionis Custodes.
One the positive side, Possessing the frankness, decisiveness and discernment of a Lombard farmer combined with a deep Franciscan spirituality, Cardinal Pizzaballa brings a wealth of experience and connections from the Holy Land that is crucial for the Church and for world peace.
Unfortunately he is relatively young, little is known about his theology and views on key issues, and he has only been a cardinal for a short time. These factors may preclude him from being considered a serious papabile in the short term, but he looks destined to be a leading cardinal candidate in the years ahead.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from collegeofcardinalsreport.com
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