Matteo Zuppi

Matteo Maria Zuppi

Matteo Maria Zuppi (born 11 October 1955) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Archbishop of Bologna since 12 December 2015. He was previously an auxiliary bishop of Rome from 2012 to 2015.

Pope Francis raised him to the rank of cardinal in 2019. He has been president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022.

Quotes

• A cardinal must be an example, must be a man who unites... "the hinge," from which cardinal is derived. It consists of being precisely the instrument that holds other objects together. So, all the more reason I feel the importance of being a witness of unity and of believing so greatly in the communion that unites those who are different.
  • EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Cardinal-elect Zuppi: Peace Begins With One-on-One Encounter (4 October 2019) Zenit

• If everyone finds a home in the church, then they will also understand or rediscover the rules in this house. Nobody can make the one of the many cheap feel-good providers or one of the many counselling services.
  • Cardinal Zuppi: Catholic Church must rediscover its role (February 1, 2024)

• Declaration of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, Fiducia supplicans is placed within the horizon of mercy, of the Church's loving gaze on all of God's children, without, however, departing from the teachings of the Magisterium. God wants everyone to be saved. It is therefore the Church's task to be interested in each and every person. We cannot forget that all the baptized," he added, "enjoy the full dignity of 'children of God' and, as such, are our brothers and sisters. There is no questioning of the meaning of the Sacrament of Marriage. We are open to dialogue, but we will not let others tell us what the content of charitable action or mission is, which are never partisan, because the only part of the Church is Christ and the defense of the person, of life, from beginning to end.
  • Zuppi difende le benedizioni delle coppie omosessuali: “Compito della Chiesa interessarsi di tutti” (in Italian; January 22, 2024)

• On abortion, the 194 Law was painful, but it seems to me to guarantee, for some too little, for some too much and it has an important secular translation, so much so that no one is going to question it. Granted that we have to get out of the Oriazi and Curiazi scheme, the deterrent part, about avoiding a woman's suffering, the consultories, can be applied more.
  • Il vescovo Zuppi: 'Aborto, nessuno mette più in discussione la 194' (in Italian; April 2, 2023)

• Welcoming someone has no expiry date or time limit, as long as you ‘stay on the straight and narrow’. If you are a child, you are a child. If you are a brother, you are a brother, this is always your home. Then I may disagree, I may disagree completely. There has been a lot of discussion within the Church about the Zan bill. For example: is surrogacy a problem? Yes, it is a problem. But if you ask me to baptise a child born in this way, I will say: of course! I will do it. I have done it.
  • L'accoglienza non ha una scadenza o un tempo, finché "righi dritto". Se sei figlio, sei figlio. Se sei fratello, sei fratello, questa è sempre casa tua. Poi posso non essere d'accordo, posso essere per niente d'accordo. All'interno della Chiesa del ddl Zan si è discusso moltissimo. Per esempio: la maternità surrogata è un problema? Sì, è un problema. Ma se mi chiedi di fare un battesimo a un bambino nato così ti rispondo: certo! Lo faccio. L'ho fatto.
    • From an interview of Silvia Bombino, Il cardinale Zuppi: «Cambiamo il mondo», Vanity Fair (August 4, 2022)

• Those who come from afar seem like enemies, but only because no one has ever spoken to them. Don't believe those who tell you not to talk to them: you just have to find the right way to talk to them. ... Sometimes it seems that selfishness is convenient, but it only hurts us. Love is always convenient, love always wins. We must learn to do works of mercy, not works of selfishness.
  • Chi viene da lontano sembra un nemico ma solo perché nessuno gli ha mai parlato. Non credete a quelli che vi dicono che con quello non ci dovete parlare: bisogna solo trovare il modo giusto per parlargli. ... A volte sembra che l'egoismo convenga, invece ci fa solo del male. L'amore conviene sempre, l'amore vince sempre. Dobbiamo imparare a fare le opere della misericordia, non le opere dell'egoismo.
    • As quoted in "Lotta a omofobia e violenza sulle donne": il vescovo scalda la platea Fiom di Bologna, Repubblica.it (June 16, 2019)

• Journalist: Welby was denied a funeral. If a person died by assisted suicide, would you celebrate their funeral? Cardinal Zuppi: Yes. However, I must clarify one point: the Church does not allow euthanasia, but calls for the application of palliative care. We remain at the side of our loved ones until the very end, doing everything possible to relieve their physical and spiritual suffering, without any form of aggressive treatment, but always defending the dignity of the person. The complexity of the situation requires intelligence, mercy and love in order to understand the events of life.
  • Giornalista: A Welby fu negato il funerale. Se una persona morisse con il suicidio assistito, lei ne celebrerebbe le esequie? Cardinale Zuppi: Sì. Devo però chiarire un punto: la Chiesa non ammette l'eutanasia, ma chiede l'applicazione delle cure palliative. Si resta fino all'ultimo accanto all'amato, facendo di tutto per togliere la sofferenza del corpo e dello spirito, quindi senza alcun accanimento, ma difendendo sempre la dignità della persona. La complessità richiede intelligenza, misericordia e amore per capire le vicende della vita.
    • From an interview of Silvia Bombino, Il cardinale Zuppi: «Cambiamo il mondo», Vanity Fair (August 4, 2022)

• Political love frees us from the distortion of ideologies and restores to us the most noble value, which is to seek what unites us and resolve what divides us.
  • L'amore politico ci libera dalla distorsione delle ideologie e ci restituisce il valore più nobile che è quello di cercare ciò che unisce e di risolvere quello che divide.
    • From an interview of Mimmo Muolo, Dopo il voto, il cardinale Zuppi: ora servono tante idee e poca ideologia, Avvenire.it (September 28, 2022)

• There is a deep harmony. Pope Francis manages to reach so many people, he touches their hearts, warms them, makes them feel loved, makes them feel that the Church is close to them, a Church that listens to you, that cares about your problems. The Pope has a great pastoral vision and proclaims the eternal truths in today's language and categories. Above all, he helps us understand that the social and the spiritual are intimately united. And woe betide anyone who divides them.
  • La sintonia è profonda. Il Papa riesce ad arrivare a tantissime persone, tocca il cuore, riscalda, fa sentire amati, fa sentire la Chiesa vicina alla gente, una Chiesa che ti ascolta, che si appassiona al tuo problema. Il Papa ha una grande visione pastorale e annuncia nella lingua e con le categorie di oggi le verità di sempre. Oltre tutto ci aiuta a capire che il sociale e lo spirituale sono intimamente uniti. E guai a dividerli.
    • From an interview of Mimmo Muolo, Dopo il voto, il cardinale Zuppi: ora servono tante idee e poca ideologia, Avvenire.it (September 28, 2022)

• If Pope Leo XIV was chosen in such a short time,“ the IEC president added, ”it means that there was a convergence, a coming together. And I think it is a great value. A unity like this, at a time like this, I think it is a beautiful indication and also a great responsibility.
  • Se Papa Leone XIV è stato scelto in così poco tempo – aggiunge il presidente Cei – vuol dire che c'è stata una convergenza, un ritrovarsi. E penso sia un grande valore. Un'unità come questa, in un momento come questo, penso sia una bellissima indicazione e anche una grande responsabilità.
    • As quoted in Zuppi e i retroscena del Conclave: “In Cappella Sistina il peso della scelta”, Il Resto del Carlino (May 10, 2025)

• Seeing so many people in St. Peter's Square waiting for the announcement was truly moving. There was anticipation, so much joy, so much desire. I had a lump in my throat. I wondered what I would have done if I had been in the new Pope's place, and I thought I would have done as in the film by Nanni Moretti: I would have stepped out onto the balcony, and after seeing so many people, I would have closed it and said, “I can't do it”. [...] I knew about FantaPapa because I talked about it with my grandchildren, and we exchanged words of esteem.
  • Vedere tanta gente in piazza San Pietro che aspettava l’annuncio è stato davvero commovente, c’era attesa, tanta gioia, tanto desiderio. Avevo un groppo in gola. Mi sono chiesto cosa avrei fatto se fossi stato io al posto del nuovo Papa e ho pensato che avrei fatto come nel film di Nanni Moretti: mi sarei affacciato al balcone, dopo avere visto tanta gente l’avrei richiuso e avrei detto: “Non ce la faccio”». [...] Sapevo del FantaPapa perché ne ho parlato con i miei nipoti, ho avuto uno scambio di stima con loro.
    • As quoted in Alba Romano, Il cardinale Zuppi e lo «scampato pericolo» in Conclave: «Ecco cos’avrei fatto se mi avessero eletto Papa», open.online (in Italian; May 16, 2025)