Matteo Maria Zuppi, Bologna archbishop, would he make a good pope? It is often quoted among candidates credible to the pontifical succession.
All eyes are turned to the Vatican and the conclave, the meeting of the Cardinals voters who must designate the next sovereign pontiff. 135 cardinals are eligible to take over from Pope Francis. These are those who are under the age of 80. Two of them have withdrew for health reasons. Technically, the remaining 133 cardinals could all become the next pope. But only about fifteen are considered “papabile”, that is to say favorites to take over from François. Among them is Matteo Maria Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna (Italy) aged 69.
The Bookmarker Polymarket site even places it in the top ten favorite candidates to become the next Pope. A classification which reflects the bets of the bettors, much more than its real election chances: with many papabili in the running and an unpredictable ballot, these dimensions must be taken with caution.
Zappi, a committed Catholic
Matteo Maria Zuppi was a relative of Pope Francis. He was ordered a priest in 1981 and conducted international missions with a mediator role in conflicts. He also has a progressive vision of the Church, which is not shared by all of his peers. Matteo Maria Zuppi was appointed auxiliary bishop of Rome in 2012 by Benedict XVI, Archbishop of Bologna in 2015 and Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019. He then took the lead from the Italian episcopal conference, which brings together the Italian bishops and which serves as the main assembly of the prelates of Italy.
Matteo Maria Zuppi played the role, from 1990, as a mediator in negotiations between the government of Mozambique and the resistance party, engaged in a civil war since 1977. After almost two years of negotiation, mediation led to the signing of peace agreements between the two parties, appointed Rome agreements. After their signature, Matteo Maria Zappi was appointed honorary citizen of Mozambique.
He also took part in the attempted peace in Ukraine. As announced by the Holy See press office in May 2023, he was responsible for carrying out a mission in order to appease tensions in the conflict in Ukraine. After visits to Ukraine and Russia, he called to “do everything to promote negotiations” in his book “God does not leave us alone. Reflections of a Christian in a world in crisis” (ed. Piemme).
Progressive positions
Like Pope Francis, Matteo Maria Zappi has a position concerning immigration which is very different from that of the last Italian leaders. On February 18, 2024, he spoke on the RAI (Italian public television) on several subjects, including that of migration. Unlike the current government of Giorgia Meloni, the Archbishop of Bologna reaffirmed the position of the Church which “takes sides for the ‘person’”, stressing “the importance of a continuous and constructive dialogue with all governments, including the current government (that of Giorgia Meloni, editor’s note)”, in particular about migrations related to the war in Ukraine, reports Vatican news.
He is also one of the religious figures who displays one of the most progressive visions concerning LGBT rights. In June 2022, he allowed a couple of people of the same sex to unite by receiving a religious blessing. A blessing that was supported by the Curie de Bologna, but not by part of its peers always fiercely opposed to these unions.
19:00 – Zappi, a fine connoisseur of Ukraine, but helpless
Matteo Maria Zuppi was entrusted with a peace mission, entrusted by Pope Francis in 2023, in the midst of war between Russia and Ukraine. The pope had indeed responsible for a delicate diplomatic mediation to try to open dialogue channels between Moscow and kyiv, with a particular accent on humanitarian issues, such as the return of the Ukrainian children displaced to Russia. This initiative, although symbolic in a very tense context, shows the confidence of the Pope in ZUPPI and the recognition of his skills in negotiation and dialogue. His commitment to peace since Mozambique had made him credible in the eyes of personalities in Ukraine. But its action had no impact on Moscow, which has not varied an iota on its invasion strategy in Ukraine, nor access to the humanitarian requests of the Vatican.
15:32 – Zappi, a man marked by his mission in Mozambique
The journey of Matteo Maria Zuppi is marked, considerably, by his commitment to mediation for peace in Mozambique in the 1990s. Active member of the community of Sant’Egidio, he played a key role in the negotiations which led to the 1992 peace agreements, ending a civil war having lasted more than 15 years. This field work for peace illustrates, according to the Vatican, its concrete and committed pastoral approach, focused on dialogue, reconciliation and presence with the most vulnerable – a line in perfect continuity with that of Pope Francis.
07:20 – Matteo Mast, Free matte vi FS prêtres de la Casa del Clero
Since his appointment to the head of the church of Bologna ten years ago, the Archbishop Matteo Maria Zuppi lives in Casa del Clero with twenty-five retired priests, some of which are sick or in wheelchair, while others remain active in the service of the confession at the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre and the basilica of San Petronio. A few days before the conclave, where he is one of the favorites to succeed Pope Francis, emotion grows in this building of the city center, reports Bologna Today. “If he became Pope, it would be a great joy,” says Sister Monique, director of assistance personnel at the Maison du Clergé. “He is very attached to his brothers who live here. He is interested in them, asks for their news and, if he learns that someone is sick, he worries immediately.” One of the old priests even gave him advice: “If you become Pope, you can keep your first name, Matteo”. The conclave, which begins this Wednesday afternoon, may designate Cardinal Zuppi as a successor.
05/07/25 – 12:54 – This little -known link which links Matteo Zuppi to the highest circles of the Vatican Circles
Born and raised in Rome, Matteo Zuppi maintains close family ties with the Vatican. His father, Enrico, was a journalist and photographer. Giovanni Battista Montini-Future Paul VI, then under Security of State-the name of the editor-in-chief of the Osservatore della Domenica, the illustrated weekly edition of the Romano Osservatore, published by the Official Vatican Information Service. His mother, Carla Fumagalli, was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confallonieri, secretary of Pope Pius XI, then prefect of the Congregation for the Bishops, and dean of the Cardinals College during the funeral of popes Paul VI and Jean-Paul Ier.
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