Pietro Parolin (Italian pronunciation: ['pj??tro paro'lin], Venetian: [pa?o'li?]; born 17 January 1955) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church.
A cardinal since February 2014, he has served as the Secretary of State since October 2013 and a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers since July 2014.
Before that he worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See for thirty years, where his assignments included terms in Nigeria, Mexico and Venezuela as well as more than six years as Undersecretary of State for Relations with States.
He speaks native Italian, fluent English and French, and near-native Spanish.