Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was discussed as a possible pope before the 2025 conclave, but he was not elected: the conclave chose Pope Leo XIV on May 8. A search-result excerpt shows at least one user joking about making Pizzaballa pope; it does not verify that a crowd chanted for him or that the phrase became a trend.
Who is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa?
Pizzaballa is an Italian Franciscan and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Born in Cologno al Serio, near Bergamo, on April 21, 1965, he joined the Order of Friars Minor in 1984 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He moved to Jerusalem that October. The Holy See biography lists Italian, modern Hebrew, and English among the languages he speaks.
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His senior roles included serving as Custos of the Holy Land, becoming Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 2016, and being appointed Latin Patriarch in 2020. Pope Francis made him a cardinal in 2023. These years of service in Jerusalem and leadership in the Church there formed part of the background cited in coverage of his possible candidacy.
Why was Pizzaballa discussed as a possible pope?
In the days before the conclave, media outlets and Vatican observers included Pizzaballa among possible contenders. ANSA’s May 5, 2025, profile emphasized his Franciscan background, work in the Holy Land, and role as patriarch. An Associated Press profile published April 30 described him among the contenders and reported that some Italian Vatican watchers considered him a favorite.
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That was commentary and speculation, not an official candidacy or a measure of his likelihood of election. The cardinals elected Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. Pizzaballa took part in the conclave, and the Latin Patriarchate later reported that he spoke about his first conclave at a May 13 press conference.
Did users really chant “Cardinal Pizzaballa for Pope”?
The available evidence is much narrower than the phrase “users chant” suggests. A Reddit search-result excerpt contains the joking line “Pierbattista Pizzaballa, letsa make him da pope.” The post itself could not be opened, so the excerpt is evidence only that at least one user used playful wording about electing him.
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It does not establish who wrote the line, when it was posted, whether it was spoken or sung, whether a crowd joined in, or how widely it circulated. There is no verified chant video, confirmed set of lyrics, or audience-size figure in the available material. “Cardinal Pizzaballa for Pope” is therefore best understood as a playful expression of pre-conclave enthusiasm, not a documented mass chant or an ongoing campaign.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened after the conclave?
Leo XIV became pope in May 2025, and Pizzaballa participated in the conclave that elected him. The Latin Patriarchate’s biography also records further Vatican dicastery appointments for Pizzaballa in 2025. The “for Pope” discussion belongs to the run-up to that conclave; it does not describe a current contest.
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