Vatican City – As he had confided to his closest collaborators, Pope Leo XIV dedicated the summer months to listening, observing, and allowing decisions to mature. The time for listening, however, is not over: it remains the hallmark of his pontificate. Yet, alongside this, certain governing choices have now become unavoidable. In recent days, Leo XIV has begun to leave his first concrete marks, setting in motion that process of renewal which he himself deems indispensable.
A crucial point in the life of every bishop – and all the more so for the Pope – concerns his closest collaborators. All must, in general, be faithful and capable of supporting him, but those who share most intimately in the Pope’s daily life take on decisive importance. It is no coincidence that Leo XIV has shown his intention to “oil the machine with his own oil, and not with that of others,” choosing people who mirror his vision and who can offer loyal support.
In recent weeks, his personal secretary, Fr. Edgard Iván Rimaycuna Inga, had been entrusted by the Pope with certain confidential missions and had temporarily stepped away from Rome. At Leo’s side, then, reappeared Fr. Daniel Pellizzon, a figure already known for serving alongside his predecessor.
In the past few days, however, Leo has taken a further step, which we can now make public: the Pope has appointed his new second secretary, identifying him as the Reverend Fr. Marco Billeri, priest of the Diocese of San Miniato. The choice is anything but casual; it reveals the Pope’s determination to rely on collaborators personally selected by him, according to criteria of fidelity, competence, and reliability. Cardinal Prevost met the priest over the summer, and in recent weeks Fr. Billeri has already begun working alongside the other collaborators of the Pope.
Born and raised in the Church of San Miniato, Fr. Billeri was ordained a priest in 2016. After his studies in Rome, he earned a doctorate in Canon Law, distinguishing himself for seriousness and academic rigor. He has held significant roles: judge at the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Tuscany, defender of the bond in the tribunals of San Miniato and Volterra, episcopal master of ceremonies, and secretary of the Presbyteral Council. In recent years, he has served as assistant pastor at the parish of SS. Stefano e Martino in San Miniato Basso.
An appointment that, beyond the personal profile, fits into a broader design: Leo XIV wishes to surround himself with carefully chosen collaborators, so that the machinery of governance functions according to his imprint, and not by the inertia of others.
d.I.A.
Silere non possum