As the May 7 conclave approaches, speculation continues to swirl around who will emerge as the next successor of St. Peter. Among those under the papabile spotlight is Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and a trusted emissary of Pope Francis. Yet for many Catholics seeking continuity with traditional Church teaching, Zuppi represents a deeply controversial figure.
A Divided Italian Bloc and Zuppi’s Appeal
While Cardinal Pietro Parolin has long been considered a frontrunner, emerging divisions within the Italian episcopate suggest an opening for Zuppi. According to the original report, “the Italian bloc is divided between Parolin, Zuppi, and the 60-year-old Pierbattista Pizzaballa,” leaving room for European cardinals to rally around a Vatican insider who is not formally tethered to the full legacy of Pope Francis.
Sant’Egidio: Zuppi’s Spiritual and Political Base
Zuppi’s rise is inseparable from his lifelong association with the influential Sant’Egidio Community, a movement that has shaped Vatican diplomacy for decades. Having met founder Andrea Riccardi as a student, Zuppi became a trusted figure in the community, eventually serving as its general ecclesiastical assistant from 2000 to 2012.
The group is known for its involvement in global diplomacy and its progressive theological leanings. According to the article, “if the hippie movement of recent decades could be codified into a charismatic, ecumenical, and geopolitical group… such would be the liturgical and theological spirit of Sant’Egidio — and concomitantly also the spirit of Zuppi himself.”
Veteran Vaticanist Sandro Magister famously warned that “if Zuppi is elected in the conclave, the real pope will be Andrea Riccardi,” referring to the powerful Sant’Egidio founder. Magister added, “That the one to govern the Church, if he [Zuppi] is elected, will not be he, but Andrea Riccardi.”
Controversial Endorsements and LGBT Advocacy
Zuppi has received praise from unexpected quarters, including former Masonic Grand Master Gioele Magaldi. In a 2020 interview, Magaldi said, “Among the cardinals the one I respect most is Matteo Zuppi, who by the way married me. He would be a very good pope.”
On issues of sexuality, Zuppi has consistently supported progressive stances. He wrote an essay for the Italian edition of Fr. James Martin’s Building a Bridge, stating it is “useful for encouraging dialogue, as well as reciprocal knowledge and understanding.” He further praised the work of an Italian Bishops’ Conference employee who called for changes in Church teaching on homosexuality, writing, “When in our communities we really begin to look at people as God looks at them… homosexual people, and everyone else, will also begin to feel… part of the ecclesial community.”
He has supported Fiducia Supplicans, the 2024 Vatican document permitting blessings of same-sex couples, saying the Italian bishops “welcomed” it as “a document that is set within the horizon of mercy.”
Balancing Tradition?
Interestingly, Zuppi has also celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass, presiding over Pontifical Vespers during a major Latin Mass pilgrimage in Rome. According to the blog Messa in Latina, “he has always, when asked, celebrated the Tridentine Mass.” This dual approach highlights his ability to appeal across theological lines.
Zuppi on the Global Stage
Zuppi has become a leading figure in Vatican diplomacy. Pope Francis appointed him as a peace envoy for the Ukraine-Russia war, bypassing Cardinal Parolin. As part of his mission, Zuppi met with Ukrainian and Russian officials, traveled to China and the Middle East, and even visited the White House to speak with President Biden in 2023.
This rising international profile, combined with his growing influence and favor from global power brokers, makes him a formidable contender. According to the article, he has become “almost a parallel secretary of state,” signaling a shift in Vatican power dynamics.
Immigration and Synodality
Zuppi’s tenure has also been marked by vocal support for immigration, particularly through controversial associations. In 2020, left-wing activist Luca Casarini suggested that Zuppi’s leadership would mean “ready flow of money” for operations facilitating illegal immigration. Casarini was later invited to the Synod on Synodality as a participant.
Final Thoughts
Cardinal Zuppi’s papabile profile reflects the complex tensions within the modern Church. While he maintains a public image of balance, his deep-rooted connections to progressive networks such as Sant’Egidio, his support for heterodox teachings on sexuality, and his political associations prompt concern among faithful Catholics.
As Sandro Magister warns, “some of his brother cardinals [are] wary at ceding power of the throne to a puppet master.” If Zuppi emerges from the conclave in white, it would represent a continuation of Francis’ reformist trajectory — albeit in a more diplomatic, less confrontational style.
