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.
JUST IN: According to multiple sources, yesterday afternoon an “alert” was triggered in the Vatican concerning the health of former Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is considered one of the leading papal contenders. The 70-year-old Cardinal reportedly… pic.twitter.com/96QcME6VwI
— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) May 1, 2025
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