Is Cardinal Parolin the next cardinal dean?

It looks as though Pope Francis could be handing Cardinal Pietro Parolin the keys to the next conclave

With the lapse of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re’s five year term earlier this month, the College of Cardinals needs a new dean.

Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Image via Vatican media.

The dean, who is “first among equals” of the college, is supposed to play several key roles during a papal interregnum and conclave.

The dean is elected by only a …