Pietro Parolin: The soft-spoken, longtime Vatican diplomat could be the next pope

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State for the past 12 years and its apical diplomat, has emerged connected astir each shortlist arsenic an evident papal contender.

Parolin - a 70-year-old from a tiny municipality successful Italy's profoundly Catholic bluish Veneto portion - is said to beryllium a dependable head who could bring immoderate calm aft 3 consecutive papacies that were astatine times tempestuous.

As the Vatican's fig two, helium is possibly the campaigner champion known to the 133 cardinal electors who volition participate the Sistine Chapel for the commencement of the concealed conclave connected Wednesday.

His relation has brought him into interaction with cardinals worldwide, some successful Rome and during visits to their location countries - a familiarity that could beryllium important successful the secretive satellite of the conclave.

Two cardinals from 2 African countries, for example, astir apt cognize Parolin conscionable arsenic good oregon adjacent amended than they cognize each other.

Under Pope Francis, who died connected April 21, the fig of occasions each the world's cardinals could conscionable altogether successful Rome was limited.

"We person to get to cognize each other" has been a communal refrain to reporters from different tight-lipped cardinals entering and leaving pre-conclave meetings known arsenic "General Congregations".

Parolin is seen arsenic a quiescent diplomat who is pragmatic alternatively than blimpish oregon progressive. He occasionally had to softly enactment retired fires caused by the precocious pope's remarks.

Francis, an Argentine who was the archetypal pope from the Americas, gave media interviews and sometimes spoke disconnected the cuff successful public.

"He (Parolin) knows however to instrumentality a punch for the fig 1 and for the institution," said 1 cleric presently based overseas who has worked with him and has known him for galore years, who asked not to beryllium identified due to the fact that of the secretive quality of the conclave.

One specified caller juncture was erstwhile the precocious Pope suggested past twelvemonth that Israel's subject run successful Gaza mightiness magnitude to genocide. Parolin agreed to conscionable with the then-Israeli ambassador to the Vatican, Raphael Schutz, who told him that Israel wanted the pope to accidental much astir Israel's close to support itself.

When Francis said Ukraine should person the "courage of the achromatic flag" to extremity the warfare there, the remark drew wide disapproval from allies of Kyiv but was hailed by Russia. Parolin softly told diplomats that the pope meant negotiations, not surrender.

Career focused connected diplomacy

Parolin entered the insignificant seminary erstwhile helium was 14 and was ordained successful 1980. He has spent astir each of his vocation successful Vatican diplomacy, successful Rome and astir the world. He has ne'er headed a Catholic diocese, which would person fixed him much pastoral experience.

But those who cognize him accidental this is not a shortage because, successful moving an organisation arsenic analyzable arsenic the Vatican's cardinal medication and representing the pope astir the world, helium has had galore contacts with galore members of the faithful.

"He travelled to galore places and dealt with each categories of radical successful divers regional, taste and linguistic environments. He knows the cosmopolitan Church," the overseas cleric said.

Some conservative-leaning cardinals successful the U.S. and Asia person expressed disagreement with Parolin due to the fact that helium is the main designer of a concealed 2018 Vatican statement with China.

They telephone the deal, which gives Chinese authorities immoderate accidental successful who volition service arsenic Catholic bishops, a sell-out to the Communist Party. Supporters accidental it is amended than nary dialog astatine each betwixt the Church and China and that adjacent Pope Benedict, known arsenic much blimpish than Francis, favoured it.

Another disapproval is that nether Parolin's watch, the Secretariat of State mislaid immoderate U$140 cardinal successful a botched concern successful a London property.

The woody led to a Vatican corruption proceedings successful which Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was 1 of Parolin's apical deputies, was convicted of embezzlement and fraud.

Parolin testified astatine the proceedings but was not among those accused. Becciu denies wrongdoing and is appealing the verdict.

Parolin's property is decidedly not arsenic charismatic arsenic that of Francis, but immoderate cardinals whitethorn spot that arsenic a plus.

"Parolin is similar Clark Kent without the superman portion - mild-mannered, industrious, respected, but not flashy," said 1 person, a layman, who knows him well, referring to the celebrated comic publication quality with 2 personalities.