Pope re-confirms Cardinal Bertone as Vatican Secretary of State
(January 22, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI has re-confirmed Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as
Vatican Secretary of State, despite the fact that the Salesian turned 75 last month,
thus making him eligible for retirement. In a letter to the Italian cardinal, the
Pope recalled "with heartfelt recognition" the "long journey" of his collaboration
with the cardinal, which began with his work as a consultor of the Vatican Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict headed
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1981 to 2005. Pope Benedict recalled
that since being called by Pope John Paul II to render service in the Roman Curia,
Cardinal Bertone "carried out with competence and generous devotion the office of
secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" during "intense and demanding
years, in which documents were born of great doctrinal and disciplinary importance."
Born on 2 Dec., 1934, Cardinal Bertone, was ordained a priest in 1960. He was ordained
bishop in 1991, to head the Archdiocese of Vercelli in Italy, and in 1995 was appointed
secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by Pope John Paul II.
In 2002 he was appointed Archbishop of Genova and the following year Pope John Paul
made him a cardinal. Pope Benedict appointed him Vatican Secretary of State on 15
Sept., 2006, to succeed Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano.