2025 Papal Conclave: Italy

 I end this exploration with the Italian delegation of Cardinals.  There are 17, although 8 would be as well just associated with Vatican City as they are a large part of the administration hierarchy of the Holy See.  The Cardinals are ranked in "importance", although for the vast majority this is just a chronological listing by consecration.  The exception to this ordering are the top five who hold key rolls in the Vatican Administration.  The top two are both Italians.  #1 is Cardinal Pietro Parolin age 70.  Of all the Italians, Parolin seems to be their best hope as a successor, and he holds the powerful position of Secretary of State of His Holiness--in other words, he runs the place.  Presumably, he also knows exactly where all the bodies are buried.  #2 is Cardinal Fernando Filoni, age 79.  Cardinal Filoni is Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, an order founded by the leader of the first Medieval Crusade, Godfrey of Bouillon, circa 1099.  Cardinal Parolin was appointed by Francis, while Filoni was appointed by Benedict XVI.

Of the Cardinals with ties to specific Cathedrals, none is more well known than Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, age 62, of Napoli.  Cardinal Battaglia is called a "Street Priest" for his association with the poor and addicts, but his greatest claim to fame is his bold and sometimes daring opposition to Organized Crime syndicates known colloquially at the "Mafia".  Another Street Priest is Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice, age 60, Archbishop of Siena-Montalcino & Bishop of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza.  As much as any member of the Cardinals from Italy, Cardinal Lojudice is said to be in lock-step with Pope Francis' vision for the modern Catholic Church.

The youngest member of the Italian Cardinals is Cardinal Baldassare Reina, age 54, the Vicar General of Rome.  Hand picked by Pope Francis, Cardinal Reina has been responsible for the complete reorganization of the leadership and structure of the Diocese--a Vatican DOGE if you will--that has been referred to as "dramatic" in its accomplishments.  It may also have just been a gift to his successor, a clean house to come home to.  Finally Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, the Archbishop of Bologna.  He was also Pope Francis' envoy to peace talks between Ukraine and Russia which bore no fruit, but elevated Cardinal Zuppi in the eyes of the Italian public and solidified his status as a peacemaker.  In a contentious Conclave, could his selection be the one to bring peace?

There was a time when Italian Popes were a given.  For most of the world's lifetime the Popes were from Poland, Germany and Argentina.  Is it time to go back to Italy for a leader?  If so, Pope Francis has created a very different Italian ecclesiastical hierarchy from which to choose.