🇻🇦 - With considerable speculation taking place around Francis' health, here are the runners and riders for the next papal conclave:
Cdl. Tagle - Liberal, ex-Archbishop of Manila, seen as the "Asian Francis," supports Rome's stance on LGBT and divorced couples.
Cdl. Erdő - Conservative, Primate (chief bishop) of Hungary, supports Orbán, has spoken out against Francis over migration, divorce.
Cdl. Turkson - Conservative, been in Rome since 2009 so has an inside advantage.
Cdl. Sarah - Long-standing hope of traditionalists, known for support of the Latin Mass and staunch criticism of the current pope, but over 80 - so can't vote.
Cdl. Parolin - Vatican secretary of state, seen as Francis' number two, would be the first Italian to sit in St Peter's since John Paul I. Little is really known about his personal beliefs.
Cdl. Zuppi - Arguably the most liberal candidate, close collaborator with American leftist, pro-gay and anti-Trump priest James Martin, allegedly blessed a gay wedding per conservative Catholic media in Italy.
Cdl. Pizzaballa - Moderate, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, advocate for peace in the Levant war, supports inter-Christian outreach.
Cdls. Eijk (of Utrecht) Aborelius (of Stockholm) and Ranjith (of Colombo) have also been suggested as potential candidates.

Analysts suspect the next conclave will be mainly between Tagle and Erdő, with both representing their wings of the Church. Nonetheless, Pizzaballa, in our opinion, could emerge as a compromise candidate.
It's worth bearing in mind that anyone can be elected pope - this list is just a guide. John Paul II, when he went into the 1979 conclave as Archbishop Wojtyla of Krakow, was completely unknown outside Poland.

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🇻🇦 - JUST IN: The Italian press service covering the Vatican, RAI Vaticano, "has been alerted as a structural unit for the eventuality of an extraordinary edition" - Messa in Latino, Italian blog covering Church news.

In other words, RAI Vaticano are preparing news reports and programs for the passing of Pope Francis, suggesting the pontiff's health has worsened further.

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🇮🇹 KKR Increases Stake in Eni's Biofuel Business Enilive to 30%

Global investment firm KKR has acquired an additional 5% stake in Enilive, the biofuel subsidiary of Italian energy giant Eni, for €587.5 million. This brings KKR’s total ownership to 30%, valuing Enilive at €11.75 billion. Enilive plays a key role in Eni’s energy transition strategy, focusing on sustainable mobility solutions and decarbonized products.

While the investment highlights the growing interest in the biofuels sector, it also reflects the broader trend of foreign capital dominating critical energy industries. This raises concerns about the long-term impact on local economies and the increasing influence of Western corporations in shaping global energy policies. The deal underscores the need for a balanced approach to energy transitions, ensuring that economic and environmental goals are met without compromising national sovereignty.

🔎 Source

#Italy
@songofoil