Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General for the diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran, was born on 26 November 1970 in San Giovanni Gemini, in the metropolitan archdiocese of Agrigento. He entered the archdiocesan seminary in 1981. In 1995 he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology, and in 1998, a licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on 8 September 1995. From 1998 to 2001 he was diocesan assistant of Catholic Action and vice rector of the Archepiscopal Seminary of Agrigento. From 2001 to 2003 he was parish priest of Beata Maria Vergine dell’Itria in Favara. From 2003 to 2009 he served as prefect of the San Gregorio Agrigentino Theological Studium and from 2009 to 2013, parish priest of San Leone in Agrigento. From 2013 to 2022 he was rector of the Major Seminary of Agrigento. He also held the following roles in his diocese: lecturer of Sacred Scripture at the Institute of Religious Sciences; full lecturer at the San Gregorio Agrigentino Theological Studium; director of the Culture Office; canon of the Cathedral Chapter; and member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors. On 27 May 2022 he was appointed titular bishop of Aquae in Mauretania and auxiliary of Rome, receiving episcopal ordination the following 29 June. On 6 January 2023, the Holy Father appointed him as vice gerent of the diocese of Rome. On 6 October 2024, with the announcement of the Consistory, he was appointed vicar general for the diocese of Rome. The following 25 October, the Holy Father appointed him archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran, conferring to him the personal title of Archbishop.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 7 December 2024 of the Title of S. Maria Assunta e S. Giuseppe a Primavalle.