2010-01-22 14:35:02

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.







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