Cardinal Secretary of State

Also known as Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope

presides over Secretariat of State of the Holy See

Key facts

Style: His Eminence
Member of: Roman Curia , Council of Cardinals
Reports to: The Pope
Appointer: The Pope
Term length: At His Holiness pleasure , (expires upon death of the Pontiff, re-appointable)
Formation: 20 November 1551
First holder: Girolamo Dandini
Unofficial names: Cardinal Secretary of State

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

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inception: 1551-11-20
native label: Cardinalis Secretarius Status

~11 min read

Article

The Secretary of State of the Holy See, also known as the Cardinal Secretary of State, the Secretary of State of His Holiness (Latin: Secretarius Status Sanctitatis Suae; Italian: Segretario di Stato di Sua Santità) or the Vatican Secretary of State, presides over the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia. The Secretariat of State performs all the political and diplomatic functions of the Holy See and Vatican City. The Cardinal Secretary of State is considered the head of government of the Holy See, equivalent to a prime minister.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin has served as secretary of state since 2013, nominated by Francis and temporarily confirmed also by Leo XIV in May 2025.