Before the May 2025 conclave, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was discussed as a possible next pope because of his long service in Jerusalem and his perceived ability to bridge divisions. That was a media interpretation, not evidence that he was a leading candidate or close to election. Pizzaballa took part in the conclave, which elected Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025; the question is now a historical one.
Why was Pizzaballa discussed as a possible pope?
In a pre-election analysis, TIME described Pizzaballa as “A Compromise Candidate”. The argument centered on his leadership in Jerusalem, where Christians live amid deep regional and religious divisions, and the possibility that electors seeking a bridge-builder might find that experience appealing. TIME also suggested his avoidance of prominent doctrinal disputes could attract cardinals from different camps. These were assessments of his profile, not reported statements of voter preference.
The same analysis identified potential liabilities. At 60, Pizzaballa could have faced a long pontificate, and TIME considered him relatively unfamiliar to some electors. His experience and visibility in Jerusalem could therefore be read as an advantage, while his age and relative lack of familiarity could count against him. Those criteria explain the pre-conclave discussion; they do not amount to a ranking or forecast.
What experience shaped his profile?
The Holy See Press Office biography traces Pizzaballa’s path from Italy to the Holy Land. Born in Cologno al Serio, near Bergamo, on April 21, 1965, he entered the Order of Friars Minor in 1984 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He moved to Jerusalem in October of that year, later earning a licentiate in biblical theology there. He speaks Italian, modern Hebrew, and English. The Vatican biography also records his Hebrew translation work on the Roman Missal and other liturgical texts.
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His later appointments brought him into senior leadership in the region. He became Custos of the Holy Land in 2004, was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 2016, and became Latin Patriarch in 2020. Pope Francis made him a cardinal on September 30, 2023. That combination of pastoral, liturgical, and administrative work in Jerusalem formed the basis for much of the attention he received before the conclave.
In a July 10, 2023 Vatican News interview, Pizzaballa described the Church of Jerusalem as having “a vocation to universality, dialogue, and encounter,” with a mission to call Christians and non-Christians to encounter and reconciliation. The statement offers his own description of Jerusalem’s role; it does not show how cardinals weighed his candidacy.
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What happened at the 2025 conclave?
Pizzaballa participated in the conclave that followed Pope Francis’s death. The Latin Patriarchate’s biographical notice records his participation and Pope Leo XIV’s subsequent appointments of Pizzaballa to two Vatican dicasteries. The conclave elected Leo XIV on May 8, 2025.
The Associated Press’s 2025 conclave explainer said 133 cardinals under 80 voted, with 89 votes—two-thirds of that electorate—needed for election. Ballots were secret. These figures describe that conclave, not a permanent electorate size or a count of support for Pizzaballa.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Because voting was secret, and the cited public accounts establish participation and the final result rather than individual preferences, there is no basis here to call Pizzaballa a runner-up or assign him a vote total. A May 13, 2025 Latin Patriarchate notice says his first conclave and expectations for Leo XIV’s papacy were among the topics at a press conference, but the notice’s text does not provide a transcript of his remarks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Further reading on Pizzaballa’s Holy Land experience
The Latin Patriarchate lists Pizzaballa’s Italian-language book Il potere del cuore. Il Medio Oriente nel racconto del Custode di Terra Santa, published by Edizioni Terra Santa in 2016. It concerns his Middle East and Holy Land experience, not the papacy. Check the language and edition when seeking a copy.
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