Front-runner Cardinal seen as the successor to Pope Francis suffers sudden illness

[Michie]

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s former Secretary of State who considered by many Vatican experts as the front-runner to succeed Pope Francis, was stricken with a sudden illness that may hinder his chances in his race for the papacy.

Vatican journalist Diane Montagna tweeted today that the 70-year-old Cardinal “reportedly suffered a sudden illness due to elevated blood pressure & was attended to by a medical team that assisted him for an hour. The incident was reported by Italian journalist Nicos Puntoni.”

Parolin has been a towering figure in Vatican, church and international circles for over two decades. In 2013 he was appointed as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, the number two position in the Holy See; in 2014 Pope Francis made him a Cardinal.

Parolin was expected to preside over the upcoming Papal Conclave and many Vatican observers saw him as the favorite to succeed Francis and continue his progressive programs. Still, others see Parolin’s sudden health problems and how they may affect his performance at the Conclave in a different light.

Continued below.

Front-runner Cardinal seen as the successor to Pope Francis suffers sudden illness - Catholics For Catholics

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s former Secretary of State who considered by many Vatican experts as the front-runner to succeed Pope Francis, was stricken with a sudden illness that may hinder his chances in his race for the papacy. Vatican journalist Diane Montagna tweeted today that...

cforc.com

 

[chevyontheriver]

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s former Secretary of State who considered by many Vatican experts as the front-runner to succeed Pope Francis, was stricken with a sudden illness that may hinder his chances in his race for the papacy.

Vatican journalist Diane Montagna tweeted today that the 70-year-old Cardinal “reportedly suffered a sudden illness due to elevated blood pressure & was attended to by a medical team that assisted him for an hour. The incident was reported by Italian journalist Nicos Puntoni.”

Parolin has been a towering figure in Vatican, church and international circles for over two decades. In 2013 he was appointed as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, the number two position in the Holy See; in 2014 Pope Francis made him a Cardinal.

Parolin was expected to preside over the upcoming Papal Conclave and many Vatican observers saw him as the favorite to succeed Francis and continue his progressive programs. Still, others see Parolin’s sudden health problems and how they may affect his performance at the Conclave in a different light.

Continued below.

Front-runner Cardinal seen as the successor to Pope Francis suffers sudden illness - Catholics For Catholics

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s former Secretary of State who considered by many Vatican experts as the front-runner to succeed Pope Francis, was stricken with a sudden illness that may hinder his chances in his race for the papacy. Vatican journalist Diane Montagna tweeted today that...

cforc.com

Oh oh. Tagle for the win?

 

[Michie]

Oh oh. Tagle for the win?

I have no idea. The closer it becomes the less sure I am about front runners.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I have no idea. The closer it becomes the less sure I am about front runners.

And so we pray we get someone better than we deserve.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s former Secretary of State who considered by many Vatican experts as the front-runner to succeed Pope Francis, was stricken with a sudden illness that may hinder his chances in his race for the papacy.

Vatican journalist Diane Montagna tweeted today that the 70-year-old Cardinal “reportedly suffered a sudden illness due to elevated blood pressure & was attended to by a medical team that assisted him for an hour. The incident was reported by Italian journalist Nicos Puntoni.”

Parolin has been a towering figure in Vatican, church and international circles for over two decades. In 2013 he was appointed as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, the number two position in the Holy See; in 2014 Pope Francis made him a Cardinal.

Parolin was expected to preside over the upcoming Papal Conclave and many Vatican observers saw him as the favorite to succeed Francis and continue his progressive programs. Still, others see Parolin’s sudden health problems and how they may affect his performance at the Conclave in a different light.

Continued below.

Front-runner Cardinal seen as the successor to Pope Francis suffers sudden illness - Catholics For Catholics

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s former Secretary of State who considered by many Vatican experts as the front-runner to succeed Pope Francis, was stricken with a sudden illness that may hinder his chances in his race for the papacy. Vatican journalist Diane Montagna tweeted today that...

cforc.com

Very Renaissance...

Oh oh. Tagle for the win?

 

[Michie]

Conclave Watch: Up Fast and Down Fast – The American Catholic

the-american-catholic.com

 

[Michie]

Well would you look at this…

American, Italian sites scramble to blame each other for fake news about Parolin​

ROME – Victory, it’s been said, has a thousand fathers, while defeat is an orphan. Right now, taking up residence at that same orphanage appears to be a bit of fake news from the 2025 conclave, specifically a false report this past Wednesday about the health of front-running papal candidate Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

At the moment, the American Catholic site CatholicVote.org and several Italian news agencies seem to be in a contest to see who can offload responsibility for the rumor on the other.

Continued below.

https://cruxnow.com/papal-transition/2025/05/american-italian-sites-scramble-to-blame-each-other-for-fake-news-about-parolin/

 

[chevyontheriver]

Well would you look at this…

American, Italian sites scramble to blame each other for fake news about Parolin​

ROME – Victory, it’s been said, has a thousand fathers, while defeat is an orphan. Right now, taking up residence at that same orphanage appears to be a bit of fake news from the 2025 conclave, specifically a false report this past Wednesday about the health of front-running papal candidate Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

At the moment, the American Catholic site CatholicVote.org and several Italian news agencies seem to be in a contest to see who can offload responsibility for the rumor on the other.

Continued below.

https://cruxnow.com/papal-transition/2025/05/american-italian-sites-scramble-to-blame-each-other-for-fake-news-about-parolin/

So, it was all a hoax? And does cardinal Parolin gain on the rebound? Tagle must be tearing his hair out, having come 'that close' to locking it up.

In other news, get your 'Sarah Lawn Signs' for the campaign. Be the first on your block to have one.

 

[Michie]

Chevy?

 

[chevyontheriver]

Chevy?

What? You wondering where you can get your lawn sign?

 

[Michie]

What? You wondering where you can get your lawn sign?

I didn’t see a reply.

 

[Michie]

So, it was all a hoax? And does cardinal Parolin gain on the rebound? Tagle must be tearing his hair out, having come 'that close' to locking it up.

In other news, get your 'Sarah Lawn Signs' for the campaign. Be the first on your block to have one.

I’m in the woods. All that would see it is wildlife. Maybe a bumper sticker for the vehicles..

 

[Michie]

After Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni issued a flat denial during a press briefing on Friday, however, the hunt seemed to be on to identify who was responsible for a report now seen as a fairly naked attempt to sabotage Parolin’s chances. (It was also a not-so-subtle reminder that Parolin has had relatively minor health challenges in the past, including a 2020 operation for a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostrate.)

A report Saturday morning in Corriere della Sera, Italy’s newspaper of record, left little doubt whom they are blaming: “In this case, the broadside came from the American front,” the newspaper asserted.

“To prove it, supporters of the cardinal emphasize that the first rumors about the episode that supposedly struck him on Wednesday came from the conservative American site CatholicVote.org (with echoes on many social media accounts),” the Corriere story said.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I’m in the woods. All that would see it is wildlife. Maybe a bumper sticker for the vehicles..

So then lawn signs aren't going to be a big deal for you, eh?

 

[Michie]

So then lawn signs aren't going to be a big deal for you, eh?

Nah. Aren’t supposed to campaign.

 

[Michie]

Trump thinks he should be pope. Nobody has a chance now.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Nah. Aren’t supposed to campaign.

The cardinals cannot campaign. The consistory rules don't seem to prohibit us nobodies from campaigning, do they?

 

[Michie]

The cardinals cannot campaign. The consistory rules don't seem to prohibit us nobodies from campaigning, do they?

Well the idea is making your decision based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can pray but I’m not sure we can campaign. The campaigning from us would not make a difference anyway.

As far as Trump, it was a weird joke he made. We Catholics are supposed to have our knickers in a twist about it.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Well the idea is making your decision based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can pray but I’m not sure we can campaign. The campaigning from us would not make a difference anyway.

Yup. Our campaigning isn't going to make any difference at all. I just liked the idea of a lawn sign. For Sarah. Or for that matter a bumper sticker.

As far as Trump, it was a weird joke he made. We Catholics are supposed to have our knickers in a twist about it.

It WAS a weird joke, and I'm not even sure it started with Trump. But Trump did great move to come out with his own post showing a picture of him as pope. He yanked the chain on all the folks who allow him to live rent free in their heads. Of course he won't even get one vote. And he knows it too.

 

[Michie]

Yup. Our campaigning isn't going to make any difference at all. I just liked the idea of a lawn sign. For Sarah. Or for that matter a bumper sticker.

It WAS a weird joke, and I'm not even sure it started with Trump. But Trump did great move to come out with his own post showing a picture of him as pope. He yanked the chain on all the folks who allow him to live rent free in their heads. Of course he won't even get one vote. And he knows it too.

Of course he knows he is not qualified. He was asked who he preferred as pope. He joked and said he should be pope. Ended it with he had no preference for next pope. Then posts an AI pic riding on that joke. What gets me is people that hate the Church and religion in general all the sudden find it offensive. No, they just want to continue the obsession with him. It’s so transparent. Anyone else did that and it would not be an issue. It’s just pathological imo. I don’t give a flying fig what the man posts. But I’m supposed to be offended.

As far as yard signs, I think it would be funny to see yard signs for pope just to see where people are at.