This conclave has the fewest Italians in history, but Italy is still the country with the most representation. In 2013, there were 28 Cardinals. Now, the number is down to 17, almost half.
In the curia, there are eight Italians, including two prefects: that of the Causes of Saints and that of the Oriental Churches.
Other senior Italian officials include the Major Penitentiary Cardinal Angelo De Donatis who holds one of the few Vatican positions that does not cease in the Sede Vacante, and the grand master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Cardinal Filoni.
Italy incorporated four new cardinals in the last consistory, with very diverse profiles. From a high-ranking official of the department dealing with migrants to the new vicar of the Diocese of Rome. Also, two diocesan archbishops: the Archbishop of Turin and the Archbishop of Naples.
There are, however, three Italian names that are the most popular in the pools. The one who has all the cards, according to the media, is Pietro Parolin. He has been the number two in the Holy See. He is also a diplomat, knows the curia and has a moderate and conciliatory profile, but without much pastoral experience.
The other Italian in the running is Matteo Zuppi. Close and very focused on social issues, such as migration, he also has a diplomatic profile. Pope Francis appointed him as his envoy for the peace mission in Ukraine.
And, among the 17 cardinal electors from Italy, Pierbattista Pizzaballa is the third great favorite, but is technically not an Italian to the Holy See. This is because he is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He played a key role in building bridges with the Jewish and Muslim world. Also, he showed good management over the years of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which intensified with the war in Gaza.
The same technicality goes for Giorgo Marengo, one of the youngest cardinals. Although he is from Italy, Marengo is a missionary and ministers in Mongolia, one of the countries that, for the first time, will have a cardinal in the Sistine.
JH
