There are only a few days left until the start of the conclave that will elect the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. There are several favourites to succeed Pope Francis - Italians Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zuppi and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, along with Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa was made a cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis. On October 16, 2023, he voluntarily offered himself as a hostage to Hamas in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages they captured during the terror group's harrowing attack on October 7 two years ago. Pierbattista was born on April 21, 1965, in Castel Liteggio, a tiny rural village in the province of Bergamo, 19 miles from Milan. He turned 60 on the day Pope Francis died. His mother, Maria Taddini, cried that day both for the pontiff's death and for concern about her son's future.

For years, she had been told that Pierbattista would be the next pontiff. She has now confessed her thoughts about her son potentially becoming the 267th Pope with infobae.

“I hope he doesn't become Pope! Because then he would be free to come home to see me. I miss him; I can't go visit him, I'm already a certain age (90 years old), but he, being young, could come to see me from time to time.

She said she had not seen her son since before Christmas: “I see him more in newspapers [...] We communicate, but not these days. He greeted me before leaving for Rome and said: ‘Mum, stay calm. If anything happens, I'll let you know myself. Stay calm.’ And here I am, calm, waiting for news."

Ms Taddini said that while she accepts what God wants, “my heart sometimes rebels! [...] It's not like I have much life ahead of me… but I'd like him to come home from time to time.

She revealed that on her mother’s side of the family there are many people who joined the church, including a priest who died in war and four religious relatives still alive today.

When asked how she felt about her son offering himself as a hostage in exchange for others, she said: “It was his decision. I can't intervene in his choices.

“I know my son is consistent in his actions. He knows what he's doing. I didn't impose anything on my children. If you start something, you have to finish it; otherwise, don’t start it at all.”