Lawrence Mazzare was originally a Catholic priest from Grantville. After the Ring of Fire, Mazzare became an important adviser on sectarian matters to the various governments established by Grantville. He was appointed the United States of Europe's ambassador to the Most Serene Republic of Venice. In 1634, after acting as Galileo's defender, he was elevated to "His Eminence the Cardinal-Protector of the United States of Europe" by Pope Urban VIII. Mazzare had to rename his church from "Saint Vincent de Paul" to St. Mary's as Vincent de Paul was still alive at that time.