Who is Pietro Parolin, the Italian front-runner to become the next Pope?

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the Catholic Church entered the period known as Sede Vacante—a transitional phase that begins with the passing of the pontiff and ends with the election of his successor. To choose the next Bishop of Rome, more than one hundred cardinals from across the world will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, where they will vote up to four times a day until a consensus is reached.

The process is shrouded in secrecy. Cardinals are barred from communicating with the outside world, and are not permitted to use phones or access the internet during the conclave. That level of isolation makes it difficult to predict who will be elected, but some names have emerged as clear favorites. Chief among them is Pietro Parolin.

Who is Pietro Parolin

Born in 1955 in Schiavon, a small town in Italy’s Vicenza province, Parolin has become a central figure in the conclave and is widely seen as a top contender. He has a long track record in the Holy See, beginning in 1983 when he joined the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, the institution responsible for training the Vatican’s diplomats and administrators.

From there, he entered the Vatican diplomatic service, spending time at the Holy See’s nunciatures in Nigeria and Mexico before returning to Rome to work within the Secretariat of State. He steadily climbed the ranks and became a key figure in the Holy See’s relationships with countries such as China and Vietnam during the 2000s.

Why is Pietro Parolin considered a favorite

One reason Pietro Parolin is seen as well-positioned to succeed Pope Francis is that, in some ways, he already has. In 2013, Francis appointed him as Secretary of State, making Parolin his top advisor. In recent months, he has even represented the Pope at events the pontiff was unable to attend due to illness.

That said, Parolin has also expressed disagreement with some of Francis’s decisions. He has been particularly critical of same-sex marriage, calling its legalization “a defeat for humanity.” At the same time, he does not reject the idea of ending mandatory celibacy and views the ordination of women as a legitimate subject of debate.

Ultimately, his diplomatic background and administrative leadership within the Holy See have made him one of the strongest candidates to guide the Church through the complex challenges it now faces. His moderate tone and skill in dialogue may prove essential in a time of global polarization.

See also: The longest conclave in history: 1,006 days, cardinals dying, and only bread and water

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