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."