Who is a Slovenian who goes into the match for the new Pope?
After death pope Francis In the Vatican are already preparing for the preparations for election of a new popeto be selected in the Conclav within one month.
In the past, the Conclaves began at least 15 and a maximum of 20 days after the death or resignation of the pope. The new pope will be selected by cardinals voters who are under 80 years of age, and among the candidates is a 72-year-old Argentine Slovenian Vinko Bokalič Iglic. We are in the work about him reported more extensively A half year ago when a journalist Drago Perko visited you Prevoje near Lukovica, where the cardinal’s mother was born.
“He is kind. He always likes to come to Prevoje to chat a little. See for a couple of hours, then rushes on again. She is a very modest and pleasant gentleman, « the Cardinal of Slovenian origin described a 72-year-old host from Prevoj Risewho spent most of her life at the homestead where Vink’s mother Paul was born, while his father Vinko originates from Mengsh.
Not a favorite, but …
His parents went to Austria first in 1948, and a year later to Argentina and started a family with five children. In Buenos Aires, they lived in a number of Slovenian community called Slovenska vas. Vinko was born on June 11, 1952. Four years later, the parish was established and several boys entered the Lazarists, including Vinko Bokalič in 1970. Eight years later, he was ordained a priest. New Mass was celebrated in Lanus with brother Jožewho was ordained a priest ten months earlier, Ava Ljubljana.
Brothers Jože and Vinko Photo: Personal Archive
Vinko Bokalič was also a rector of the seminary, pastor, and finally between 2003 and 2009 a visitor from a missionary company in Argentina, and for three years he also acted as a missionary in the Diocese of Goya. In 2010 he was appointed auxiliary bishop in Buenos Aires, named Pope Benedict XVI., where he worked closely with the then Archbishop Jorge Bergogliemnow to the late Pope Francis. In 2024 he was appointed Archbishop. He also awarded him the title of Primas Argentina, and later named him the Cardinal.
The bookmakers do not rank him among the favorites of the Conclava, but this process is known to be very unpredictable.
Among the Cardinals already four Slovenes
Vinko Bokalič Iglič is the fourth cardinal of Slovenian descent. The first was Jakob Missiawho was named 18, 1899, was the Prince of Ljubljana, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Gorizia. Alojzij Ambrozic was appointed Cardinal on 21, 21, 1998, previously acted as Archbishop of Toronto. Cardinal honor is 24. 3. Franco Rodetwho was also Archbishop and Metropolitan, and then the prefect of the congregation for institutions dedicated to life and society of the apostolic life.
