cardinal pietro parolin

Cardinal Pietro Parolin is an Italian Catholic prelate serving as the Vatican's Secretary of State since 2013. He was made a cardinal in 2014 and is a prominent figure in Vatican diplomacy and governance. Parolin has a long background in the Holy See's diplomatic service and is known for shaping the Vatican's foreign policy under Pope Francis. In 2025, he presided over the papal conclave as the senior voting cardinal bishop and was considered a leading candidate (papabile) to succeed Pope Francis, though he was not elected. He is respected for his diplomatic skills and has been involved in major Church reforms and international negotiations such as the Vatican-China agreement and issues related to the Middle East.