Matthew Barnes+FollowPope Front-Runner Faces China DramaCardinal Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomat and a leading contender for the next pope, just had a health scare—and that’s not his only problem. He’s catching heat for his controversial 2018 deal with China, which critics say handed too much power to the Communist Party over Catholic churches. Some cardinals are pushing hard for him, but others (like Cardinal Zen from Hong Kong) are calling him out for selling out underground Catholics. The conclave drama is real! #Vatican #PopeElection #CardinalParolin #CatholicChurch #ChinaDeal #ChurchPolitics #Culture114229Share
