Towards the Conclave, American website: 'Sickness for Parolin'. But the news is false

7 May, the day on which the Conclave for the choice of Francis' successor will open, is approaching and alongside the meetings, official celebrations, masses, dinners and statements made by some cardinals, the first alleged indiscretions on the health of the most prominent cardinals are also arriving. It was the case of Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State (now formally lapsed as per the apostolic constitution), considered one of the strongest papal cardinals. Well, at the turn of the May Day holiday, an American website reported that Parolin had fallen ill on 30 April. Which is false.

The news, which appeared on the US website Catholicvote.org, has also rebounded in Italy, albeit with due caution. The alleged reconstruction speaks of a fainting spell at the end of last Wednesday's General Congregation, adding that it was an episode of high blood pressure that was promptly overcome. Several internal sources have confirmed that Parolin did not suffer from this episode and that his activities in recent days have not been delayed or interrupted.

The subject of the 'health' of candidates to the Papal Throne is a recurring one, and can be a disturbing element, especially if well targeted. Already Cardinal Bergoglio, in 2013 (but also in 2005) was the subject of indiscretions about his condition, especially because of the circumstance (true) that in his youth the upper lobe of his lung had been removed, which did not prevent him from fulfilling his mission as Pope. And when he was already Pontiff - in the 'hot' days of the Synod of the Family, October 2015 - news went around that he had been visited by a Japanese luminary specialising in oncology. It later turned out not to be true.