Cardinal Pizzaballa Set Up as Candidate for Next Conclave?
Edward Pentin sells Cardinal Pizzaballa as a "Papabile" on NcRegister.com (25 March).
Pizzaballa, born in 1965 in Cologno al Serio near Bergamo, Italy, has lived as a Franciscan in the Holy Land for 34 years. He was appointed Cardinal last summer.
For Pentin, the Cardinal is obiously the ideal successor to Francis. He is a "finely balanced" peacemaker in the Israeli-Palestinian war, with a little more sympathy for the Palestinian people.
Isaac Herzog, the right-wing president of Israel, has known Pizzaballa for two decades and considers him a "brilliant person" who is "highly respected" by all parties in the region.
The editor of the Franciscan-run TerraSanta.net praised Pizzaballa's "frankness, courage, non-clerical style, openness to meeting other people and vigour, supported by good health".
Pentin goes on to say that even Francis recognises Cardinal Pizzaballa's diplomatic skills. In addition, Pizzaballa was able to resolve the financial problems of the Latin Patriarchate, a skill that the next Pope, who will inherit Francis' financial disaster, will certainly need.
Father David Neuhaus SJ called Pizzaballa "a leader, a man of the world, intelligent, reflective, a man of prayer".
He added that Pizzaballa "has no problem with the traditional Mass", but he "carefully follows the instructions of the Holy See". Pizzaballa is immersed in the diversity of rites within the Catholic Church (Latin, Byzantine, Maronite, Syriac, Armenian).
When the demand for the traditional Mass arises, Father Neuhaus said, the Cardinal relies on a handful of priests (one diocesan and a few religious) who are able to celebrate Mass.
Edward Pentin's article would have been even more interesting if he had included some critical voices.
Picture: Pierbattista Pizzaballa © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsKvmlcsgoxn
Pizzaballa, born in 1965 in Cologno al Serio near Bergamo, Italy, has lived as a Franciscan in the Holy Land for 34 years. He was appointed Cardinal last summer.
For Pentin, the Cardinal is obiously the ideal successor to Francis. He is a "finely balanced" peacemaker in the Israeli-Palestinian war, with a little more sympathy for the Palestinian people.
Isaac Herzog, the right-wing president of Israel, has known Pizzaballa for two decades and considers him a "brilliant person" who is "highly respected" by all parties in the region.
The editor of the Franciscan-run TerraSanta.net praised Pizzaballa's "frankness, courage, non-clerical style, openness to meeting other people and vigour, supported by good health".
Pentin goes on to say that even Francis recognises Cardinal Pizzaballa's diplomatic skills. In addition, Pizzaballa was able to resolve the financial problems of the Latin Patriarchate, a skill that the next Pope, who will inherit Francis' financial disaster, will certainly need.
Father David Neuhaus SJ called Pizzaballa "a leader, a man of the world, intelligent, reflective, a man of prayer".
He added that Pizzaballa "has no problem with the traditional Mass", but he "carefully follows the instructions of the Holy See". Pizzaballa is immersed in the diversity of rites within the Catholic Church (Latin, Byzantine, Maronite, Syriac, Armenian).
When the demand for the traditional Mass arises, Father Neuhaus said, the Cardinal relies on a handful of priests (one diocesan and a few religious) who are able to celebrate Mass.
Edward Pentin's article would have been even more interesting if he had included some critical voices.
Picture: Pierbattista Pizzaballa © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsKvmlcsgoxn