Cardinal Zuppi to head Italian bishops' conference (CNA)

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna has been chosen by Pope Francis as president of the Italian bishops’ conference.

The 66-year-old Cardinal Zuppi was ordained in 1981, named an auxiliary of the Rome diocese in 2012, and appointed Archbishop of Bologna in 2015. He was raised to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis in 2019. A personable prelate, known as an enthusiast cyclist, and a supporter of the Sant’Egidio community, he is often mentioned as a likely candidate for the papacy.

The Italian episcopal conference is meeting in Rome this week. The president of the conference has traditionally been chosen by the Pope— a practice that has continued despite the suggestion by Pope Francis that the bishops might select their own leader.