Italian media increasingly point to the 61-year-old Polish cardinal as a potential compromise candidate in the upcoming conclave, public broadcaster Polish Radio reported on Friday.
Krajewski has served as the papal almoner, the Vatican official responsible for charitable activities, since August 2013.
Previously, he was a papal ceremonial master, assisting both Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis, and was among the few present during the final moments of John Paul II's life.
He was elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018.
'Pope’s Robin Hood'
Known for his empathy and direct action to aid the poor, Krajewski gained international attention in 2018 when he personally restored power to a building in central Rome, which housed 450 people.
He broke the seals on an electricity meter after the residents accrued EUR 300,000 in unpaid bills. He also delivered gifts to children living there, publicly taking full responsibility for his actions on behalf of the Vatican.
The Italian interior minister at the time, Matteo Salvini, criticized Krajewski, suggesting he pay the outstanding debt himself.
"Since the meter was reactivated, I have been paying; it's not a problem," Krajewski responded, leading the newspaper La Repubblica to label him the "Pope’s Robin Hood."
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Krajewski made several humanitarian visits to conflict zones. During one such visit near Zaporizhzhia, he found himself under fire.
"For the first time in my life, I didn't know where to run. It's not enough just to run; you need to know where you're going," he told Vatican News.
He also traveled to war-torn regions in the Middle East, spending Christmas there amid ongoing conflict.
Krajewski is one of four Polish cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave, along with 79-year-old Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko; Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, 75, former Archbishop of Warsaw; and Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, 61, Archbishop of Łódź.
Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, will be buried on Saturday at 10 a.m.
The conclave, a secretive gathering of cardinals to elect the next pope, will convene in the Sistine Chapel after a period of mourning.
The exact date will be announced immediately following the pope’s funeral.
(jh/gs)
Source: Polskie Radio 24