Vatican Secretary of State says Pope isn't "undoing" Vatican II
(August 29, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI's closest collaborator is denying media rumours
that the Pontiff is working to gradually "undo" the changes implemented after the
Second Vatican Council. Vatican §Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
most powerful man in the Vatican after the Pope, stated this in an interview to Vatican
newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano published on Thursday. He addressed the debate surrounding
false rumours in the Italian media about supposed documents that would reverse changes
in the Church since Vatican II, especially regarding the liturgy. The cardinal asserted
that in order to understand the Holy Father's intentions and actions, it is necessary
to consider his personal history, one that included involvement "as a genuine protagonist"
in the Conciliar Church. In this regard he pointed to the Pope’s collaboration and
relationship with the Orthodox and Eastern Churches as well as with Judaism and Islam.
He has also been having direct and fraternal link with the bishops of the world.
Cardinal Bertone warned against the error of attributing to the Pope all the problems
the Church is experiencing in the world and all the statements of his representatives.
He reminded journalists, "Correct information calls for attributing to each one his
own responsibility for deeds and words, especially when the latter openly contradict
the teachings and examples of the Pope."