Originating from an unknown source, a rumor found a powerful amplifier in the person of Diane Montagna. The American journalist based in Rome, well-known among conservative circles of the Catholic Church, reported on X on May 1 that "multiple sources" had mentioned an "alert" regarding the health of the Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin, one of the most serious candidates for the succession of Pope Francis.

The terms she used were precise: He had "a sudden illness due to elevated blood pressure" and "a medical team" had to intervene for an hour the previous day, while cardinals were still gathered in general congregations. The news was so sensational that, in a rare move, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni felt compelled to issue a denial the next day, refuting any illness or medical intervention.

While the story was intriguing, it was difficult to ascertain with certainty the goal of those who started the rumor. Were they seeking to weaken the candidacy of the Vatican's former number two, whom conservatives see as a figure of compromise, acceptable to them and the rest of the college of cardinals? Or, conversely, to strengthen the reassuring image of a potential "transitional" pope, whose primary mission would be to calm a Catholic Church that has been significantly challenged during Francis' pontificate?

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