Pope Benedict has expressed full confidence in his Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in a personal letter clearly intended to end speculation that the cardinal might be replaced.
The letter, released on July 4, was dated July 2, just before the Pope left on his summer vacation at Castel Gandolfo.
In it, the Pope expresses “deep gratitude for your discreet closeness and enlightened advice, which I have found particularly helpful in recent months”.
The time reference significantly refers to months marked by the leaking of confidential documents, the arrest of the Pope’s butler, and the controversy over the Vatican bank and the dismissal of its now former director, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi.
The Pope adds: “Having noted with sorrow the unjust criticisms that have been directed against your person, I wish to reiterate the expression of my personal confidence, which I already declared to you in a letter on January 15, 2010, the contents of which remain unchanged as far as I am concerned.”
Cardinal Bertone, the Pope’s right-hand man, has been widely seen as the target of the so-called Vatileaks campaign involving the leaking of confidential Church documents.
This has fuelled speculation that the cardinal — who is more than two years beyond the mandatory retirement age of 75 — might soon step down from his powerful position.
Cardinal Bertone did submit his resignation, as required, when he turned 75 in December 2010, but in a letter dated January 15, 2010, the Pope declined to accept his resignation.
Now, in referring back to what he wrote in that letter, the Pontiff has made it clear that his thoughts on the question of Cardinal Bertone’s retirement “remain unchanged”.
Sources:
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