With thousands of Catholics gathered in the Vatican, waiting for the choice of a new Pope after the death of Francisco, on April 21 (2025), a group of Latin American faithful asked cardinal Pietro Parolin to bless the peoples of Colombia and Argentina, understanding that he is one of the favorite papables to happen to the late Pontiff.
“Good morning to Colombians and Argentines. I am very happy to be able to send through this medium a blessing and the assurance of my prayers for their material and spiritual needs, that God bless you alls ”, the Secretary of State was heard.
Now you can follow us in Facebook and in our WhatsApp Channel.
Before occupying his current position, the Italian served as the Apostolic Nuncio of Venezuela between 2009 and 2013. A work that speaks of his connection with the Latin American people and has won the support of the southern Catholics of the southern continent:
Those who were close to Parolin in their passage through Latin America highlight their work and human warmth, which would have won Francisco’s confidenceas right hand in international matters, the last 12 years.
Pietro Parolin, current Secretary of State of the Vatican, has played a crucial role in the international diplomacy of the Holy See, especially in conflict contexts such as war in Ukraine and tensions in Lebanon. According to the Italian media The Corriere della Sera, Parolin has advocated peaceful solutions and open dialogues in both crises, consolidating itself as a key figure in Vatican’s foreign policy during Pope Francis’s pontificate.
Born on January 17, 1955 in Schiavon, Italy, Parolin assumed the position of Secretary of State on October 15, 2013, after being appointed on August 31 of that same year. Since then, he has been the main representative of Vatican diplomacy, leading initiatives to mediate international conflicts. In the summer of 2024, he visited Lebanon with the aim of reducing the escalation of violence at the border with Israel, where the clashes between the Israeli army and the militias of the Chií Lebanese party Hezbollah threatened to trigger a large -scale war.
In the context of Russian invasion to Ukraine, Parolin has worked intensely to promote peace and guarantee humanitarian aid. During a visit to Ukraine in July 2024, he met with President Volodimir Zelenski and expressed concern about the lack of advances towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. “Obviously, when peace is done, it must be done between the two contestants, but it seems to me that we are still very far”, Said Parolin, according to The Corriere della Sera. In addition, in a telephone conversation with Zelenski, he insisted on the need for a “sincere dialogue, not subject to previous conditions”, as a basis for achieving fair peace.
The cardinal has also spoken about Pope Francis’s statements regarding war in Ukraine. In March 2024, Parolin clarified the words of the Pontiff, who had urged Ukraine to “raise the white flag” to negotiate with Russia. In response, the Secretary of State stressed that “the aggressors should be the first to cease fire, and then the opening of the negotiations”, reaffirming the position of the Holy See in favor of a high immediate fire.
Parolin’s trajectory in Vatican diplomacy has positioned him as one of the most outstanding papables and, according to various analysts, such as the cardinal with greater probabilities to happen to Pope Francis. His focus on mediation and his ability to manage international crises have been key elements in his performance as Secretary of State, a position that has placed him in the center of the strategic decisions of the Vatican in recent years.
