Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general of Rome, is a Sicilian prelate known for his commitment to the poor who since 2022 has been catapulted into the highest ranks in the Church.

Born on November 26, 1970, in San Giovanni Gemini, Sicily, Baldassare Reina — affectionately known as “Don Baldo” — began his religious journey at the young age of eleven when he entered the archdiocesan seminary of Agrigento, Sicily.

After completing major seminary, Reina went on to pursue higher education at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology in 1995 and a licentiate in biblical theology in 1998. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Agrigento on September 8, 1995, by Bishop Carmelo Ferraro.

In his native Archdiocese of Agrigento, Reina held various positions. He served as the diocesan assistant of Catholic Action, vice-rector of the Agrigento seminary, and parish priest in different churches. From 2013 to 2022, he was the rector of the Agrigento seminary, a role he held for nine years, during which time he also taught Sacred Scripture.

His diocese came under the spotlight in 2013 when Pope Francis chose it as his first destination outside Rome, visiting the island of Lampedusa. Reina’s bishop at the time, Francesco Montenegro, was also elevated to cardinal and is now retired.

Father Reina first appeared on Francis’ radar in 2018, when he was received at the Vatican with seminarians from his diocese. In his speech, given off the cuff, the pontiff reportedly paid several compliments to the rector.

Reina’s career took a significant turn in 2022 when he joined the staff of the Dicastery for the Clergy. In May 2022, Pope Francis appointed him as an auxiliary bishop of Rome and titular bishop of Acquae in Mauretania, and he was consecrated the following month in the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

In a series of rapid promotions, Reina was named vicegerent of the Diocese of Rome on January 6, 2023, and raised to the rank of archbishop. He assumed additional responsibilities when the office of the vicar general for the Diocese of Rome became vacant on April 6, 2024. On October 6, 2024, Pope Francis announced Reina’s appointment as the new vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, replacing Cardinal Angelo De Donatis.

Reina was elevated to cardinal on December 7, 2024.

Cardinal Reina is known for his commitment to a “transparent and poor Church” and his desire to spread the “fragrance of the Gospel.”

Aged just 53 years old when appointed vicar general of Rome, he was one of the youngest members of the College of Cardinals when chosen. As the vicar general and cardinal, Reina will play a crucial role in implementing Pope Francis’ vision for restructuring the Diocese of Rome, and overseeing the running of the 2025 Jubilee Year.¹In January 2023, Francis published his new apostolic constitution for the diocese, which severely restricted the powers of the cardinal vicar. According to Aleteia, it defined him as an auxiliary bishop of the pope and a mere coordinator of the work of the other auxiliary bishops, placed under the direct control of the pontiff. On the contrary, the Pope strengthened the position of vice-regent (the cardinal vicar’s second-in-command), entrusting it to Bishop Reina, who had been in Rome for only a few months. He then combined this position with that of bishop in charge of the western sector.

He took over during a period of transition in the diocese, following the departure of Cardinal De Donatis, who had faced criticism for his handling of the Father Marko Rupnik case. Reina has been quick to address issues such as delays in construction work for the 2025 Jubilee.

While not directly addressing abortion or euthanasia, Cardinal Reina has shown support for the sanctity of life. He spoke positively about Chiara Corbella Petrillo, a young Italian laywoman being considered for sainthood who chose to carry two terminally ill babies to term, having them baptized immediately before their deaths less than one hour later. While pregnant with a healthy third child, Chiara was herself diagnosed with cancer and died one year later after giving birth to a healthy boy.

“We commit ourselves to imitating Chiara, because we are all called to holiness in our daily lives, in difficulties, in problems, in illnesses,” he said. “Chiara teaches us, together with an infinite host of men and women, that holiness is a possible path. It is the only path that makes us happy.”

In 2024, Cardinal Reina was reportedly accused by a former seminarian, now an “LGBT” activist, of forcing him to undergo conversion therapy in order to cure him of his homosexuality.

Cardinal Reina is reported to be a very active man who likes to take public transport and go by his first name. He said in a recent video: “I know it’s not an easy mission, because our city is beautiful, but extremely complex, unfortunately marked by many problems and difficulties.” He added that he wished to be “the image of the Good Shepherd for all.”