The ordinary people of Italy (5)
I believe the answer is:
laity
'the ordinary people' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'of italy' is the wordplay.
'of' indicates an anagram (the answer comes from or 'of' the letters).
'italy' anagrammed gives 'LAITY'.
(Other definitions for laity that I've seen before include "Italy (anag)" , "Non-clerical people" , "Unordained people" , "Non-clergy" , "Secular persons" .)