TARCISIO BERTONE

AGE: 72
OCCUPATION: Cardinal Secretary of State
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0

PRO: In charge of the Vatican's political and diplomatic affairs, he is the second most powerful official at the Vatican, after Pope Benedict. He is credited with orchestrating an effective response to the controversy recently generated by a speech the Pope made in Germany about violence and Islam.

CON: Much of his work involves implementing the will of the Pope, who ultimately calls the shots. And there are some complaints at the Vatican that he hasn't yet convinced his boss to speed up appointments and issue vital new documents.