Papabile

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Papabile (/pəˈpɑːbɪleɪ/ pə-PAH-bil-ay, UK also /-li/ -⁠ee,^[1][2] Italian: [paˈpaːbile]; pl. papabili; lit. 'pop(e)able' or 'able to be pope') is an unofficial Italian term first coined by Vaticanologists and now used internationally in many languages to describe a Catholic man, in practice always a cardinal, who is thought a likely or possible candidate to be elected pope.

In some cases the cardinals will choose a papabile candidate. Among the papabili cardinals who have been elected pope are Eugenio Pacelli (Pius XII), Giovanni Battista Montini (Paul VI), and Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) and Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Francis). However, at times the College of Cardinals elects a man who was not considered papabile by most Vatican watchers. In recent years those who were elected pope though not considered papabile include John XXIII, John Paul I, and John Paul II.

The list of papabili changes as cardinals age. For instance, Carlo Maria Martini was thought to be papabile until he retired from his see upon reaching 75 years of age. There is a saying among Vaticanologists: "He who enters the conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal."^[3] This is a popular proverb in Italy as well, indicating one should never be too sure of oneself.