Baldassare Reina was born in San Giovanni Gemini, in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, on 26 November 1970. He entered Agrigento's minor seminary at eleven, took his bachelor's in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1995, and was ordained a priest for Agrigento on 8 September 1995, adding a Gregorian licentiate in biblical theology in 1998. For two decades he formed priests: seminary vice-rector, prefect of studies, professor of Scripture, and from 2013 to 2022 rector of the Agrigento seminary, with a spell on the staff of the Dicastery for the Clergy.
His rise under Francis was steep. On 27 May 2022 he was appointed titular Bishop of Acquae in Mauretania and auxiliary bishop of Rome, consecrated in the Lateran Basilica that June, with charge of the diocese's western sector. On 6 January 2023 he became vicegerent of Rome and an archbishop, overseeing the vicariate's assets, legal affairs and safeguarding; when Angelo De Donatis moved on in April 2024, Reina carried the vicariate provisionally and was named apostolic administrator of Ostia.
On 6 October 2024 Francis named him Vicar General of Rome; on 25 October, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St John Lateran; on 7 December 2024, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Assunta e San Giuseppe a Primavalle. He voted in the 2025 conclave, and on 19 May 2025 Leo XIV appointed him Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences. His motto is Caritas patiens est — “Love is patient.”
Consequential Quotes
Peace, like charity, does not shout and does not attack, does not invade and does not kill.
There will never be a holy war, because only peace is holy.
Astonishment, wonder, gratitude — with a powerful sense of responsibility, sustained by a genuine humility and littleness.
We see how many, very many people in our city are left behind; it is as if their rights did not fully count.
Major Works & Initiatives
Vicar General of Rome
Runs the Pope's own diocese day to day, succeeding Angelo De Donatis.
Archpriest of St John Lateran
Archpriest of the Pope's cathedral, the Lateran Basilica.
Rector of Agrigento Seminary
Nine years forming Sicily's priests.
Grand Chancellor of the John Paul II Institute
Appointed by Leo XIV to head the marriage-and-family institute.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.