- Fr Federico Lombardi, the Jesuit who is Benedict XVI's spokesman and press director.
- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's Secretary of State (sometimes known as the "deputy pope"), for many years no. 2 at the CDF where Cardinal Ratzinger was prefect. With Bertone will be Mgr Leo Cushley, the Scot who coordinates the English-speaking desk at the Secretariat.
- Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican's Secretary of Relations with States, or "foreign minister".
- Mgr Georg Gänswein, the Pope's improbably good-looking papal private secretary (photo), who is always at his side.
- Mgr Guido Marini, who is in charge of the papal liturgies.
And so on - about 25 in all.
