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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - THE NEW VATICAN SECRETARY OF STATE SPEAKS
Cartinal Bertone: «Let's not Forget the Christians in Lebanon»
IL GIORNALE, AUGUST 29, 2006, page 8
Andrea Tornielli
in Genoa
Europe's role in the Middle East Crisis, his new responsibilities as Pope Benedict's "Prime Minister", the reforming of the "Curia", his hopes to regain Milingo.
In the following interview Monsignor Tarcisio Bertone, who is going to take Angelo Sodano's office as Vatican Secretary of State, reveals for the first time how he intends to carry out his new work.
He speaks with the "undefeatable optimism" of a Salesian, but also with the understandable worry about who is going to take a crucial role beside the Pope. He sees a new role for Europe as a mediator in the Middle East. In the following interview to "Il Giornale", two weeks before the assumption of his new post, Cardinal Bertone explains how he intends to perform his role as Prime Minister to Pope Ratzinger, who appointed him as his new Secretary of State, last June, succeeding the resigning Angelo Sodano. We met Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 71, Archbishop of Genoa, on the eve of an important announcement. Today, in the Monastery della Guardia, Bertone, in the presence of thousands of the faithful, is about to reveal the name of his successor. All hints are that it will be the Military Ordinary, Angelo Bagnasco, whom Pope Benedict has conferred the tenure of the Ligurian Diocese.
-How do you feel on the eve of becoming Secretary of State?
«I feel so little, in face of such a binding and important task, even if I am tall. Most of all, I feel so little in face of the figures of the great Secretaries of State of the last century. It is an extraordinary role of collaboration with the Pope, a responsibility in face of the overall Church, by following not only the life inside the Curia but also the relationships with the States and with the international organisations. I know I can rely on the friendship and most of all on the prayers of many people. During these days I have been visiting the cloistered monasteries of the Genoa Diocese: I resolved to write a letter to many contemplative monasteries around the world, in order to call for help and sustain them».
-You do not come from the diplomatic service. Do you find this is going to be a handicap for you?
«In a certain sense, yes. Even if there are famous predecessors of mine, who did not come from the diplomatic service - I have in mind Cardinals Pietro Gasparri and Jean Villot».
-Why do you think Pope Benedict chose you as his new Secretary of State?
«One should ask the Pope himself! Anyway, I hope to contribute to the spiritual mission of the Church, which rises above politics and diplomacy, even if the Secretariat of State has to use every means to help the Church's mission in every field. Monsignor Bettazzi, Bishop Emeritus of Ivrea, my city of birth, recommended me to be a Secretary "of Church" rather than "of State". I agree with him».
-You were already a substitute to Cardinal Ratzinger for seven years. How would you describe your working relationship?
«I was privileged to collaborate closely with two extraordinary men of the Church - John Paul II and the onetime Cardinal Ratzinger. The latter's way of working is very collegial, with his great capability to ask questions, to listen, to rate highly everyone's talents, even those who are young, or newcomers.
-The Pope has been Prefect for the Doctrine of the Faith, and you were his number two man: now the tandem-team returns. Is the Vatican going to become a big Holy Office?
«The Holy Office today is simply a place, a building, within the Vatican. For sure, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has the task of defending orthodoxy, and in that field, to quote the onetime Cardinal Ratzinger, it perfoms a "democratic task", since it protects the faith of common people, of those who do not write books, op-eds, and do not take part in talk-shows. But we also must remember ts primary role, to promote the faith of the Church, in a positive, inspiring manner. The Holy Office will announce the Gospel as a whole, elevating man, since he is the ultimate end of the Creation and the Redemption - whichever country, culture and state of life he happens to come from».
- Is the Secretary of State an organizer, an executive, a 'gray-eminence' or a prime minister?
«He is all of those things, although I would remove the "gray-eminence" expression! But the main aspect must be stressed - the Secretary of State is a man faithful to the Pope; he conveys his messages and helps him realize his projects. Of course he is a collaborator who connects and coordinates all the offices of the Roman Curia, and keeps in touch with all the Holy See's representatives in the world. In sum, he's a man of relationships, the conveyor belt of the Pope's wishes».
-Some choices Pope Benedict made, such as the restructuring of four Pontifical Councils into two, seem to suggest that a reform is under study...
«There have already been two Curial reforms - one made by Paul VI, soon after the Council [Vatican II], the other one by John Paul II. Its understandable that after almost two decades, the Holy See would re-organize its existing structures, strengthen the Church's mission, and continue to evaluate how everything is to be maintained».
-What does being a Salesian mean to you ?
«Essentially two things. The first one is a way of approaching people, with a great sense of trust and with an undefeatable optimism. The second one is the great legacy of Don Bosco [Salesians' Order founder]- his fidelity and attachment to the Pope, whoever he is».
- Someone criticized you for having perfomed as a television commentator at a soccer match. Would you do it again?
«Obviously not at this time, even if my desire to watch live soccer matches remains! Stadiums are filled with young people who need to be educated in the best athletic values, avoiding emotions that can lead to random acts of violence. But remember that stadiums are also places of great oportunities for young assemblies: at the Ferraris Stadium, I led a Via Crucis. In any case, the first time I was in Genoa's Stadium was not for sports commentary, but to speak to the spectators about a match that unfortunately was being played just on Easter Eve, coinciding with the Vigil of the most important feast for us Christians. I spoke for five minutes, before forty thousand people, as they listened to me in silence. My message was thus to announce the Easter faith. Then I wished a good match to everybody».
-You were one of the first ecclesiastics to attack the Da Vinci Code. Why is that novel so dangerous?
«Because it is a mix of inventions which offend the Christian faith, and most of all attacks Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately those inventions are considered true stories and the novel was widely advertised, mainly affecting unsuspecting people. But, in an unintentional way, its also provided an oportunity for the Church to spread a more accurate understanding of Christianity and the Church».
-In the years you spent at the former Holy Office you were also involved in the Medjugorie case, and in the weeping Madonna statue in Civitavecchia. Should the believers in these phenomena expect any further sanctions?
«When I intervened, it was in force of the role I had at the time, out of respect to all Marian devotees, of whom I certainly count myself. I took positions against certain exaggerations, by recalling the need not to give certain private revelations a value that could be higher than the Divine Word and the sacramental life lived in the Church. But I wish to reassure everybody - my new role will not mean further sanctions. By the way, the office of Secretary of State is very different».
- You followed very closely the unveiling of the third Secret of Fatima. Did you find catastrophic revelations about the future still to come, or was everything divulged and accomplished?
«I met with Sister Lucy many times, and had in my own hands the proceedings on this topic underlined by herself. There are no further revelations on Fatima and the so-called "third secret" has been entirely revealed. About catastrophes, some people said Sister Lucia could not close her eyes at night due to such imminent tragedies. I asked her about that, and she answered me: 'If I did not sleep at night, how could I stay awake to pray all the day long?". Sister Lucy recommended not to believe in such announcements of tragedies»
- In 2001 you were involved in the rehabilitation of Mgr. Milingo. What do you think about his new escape and of of his engagement on behalf of married priests?
«I know Mgr. Milingo very well. We do have to pay great attention to his personal story, and not cut off our relationships with him, nor abandon our hope that he comes back to full fidelity to the Pope, inside the Catholic Church, where he belongs. We must pray for him very much. I have entrusted him to the Servant of God John Paul II».
-Does it weigh heavy on you that you are leaving the Genoa Church?
«Yes, it does. In the last days, when I spoke about a copernican revolution, I just had in mind the change that the nomination to the Genoa Diocese represented to my life. I came here with good wishes, and dived into such a rich and vivid reality, by trying to walk in my predecessors' footsteps, particularly Cardinal Siri's. Problems occurred, but also consolations, and I thank God very much for that, but also thank the priests, the religious orders, the youth groups, the lay associations, which were all beside me. Now I have to devote myself to the universal Church and to the relationship with countries all around the world. For sure, I am going to get problems rather than consolations».
-Pope Benedict XVI seems to moderating certain political and diplomatic aspects of his pontificate, underlining the pastoral aspect of his mission. What could be the effect of such a new state of affairs on the Secretariat of State's work?
«The Church's mission, as the Pope himself recalls, is one and always the same - to give the world notice that beauty, happiness and the answer to man's deepest questions lay not in an idea, in a philosophic system, or in a series of teachings, but rather in a person - Jesus Christ, who died and was resurrected for our own salvation. Only by virtue and in the light of such a mission, will the Holy See try to act on behalf of peace and justice, in every corner of the world, by using all the available means in order to achieve these noble aims».
-So, what is the Holy See's task in the international arena?
«During the last century, Popes invited every person to begin with God, in order to promote a pacific and fair co-existence in every region of the Earth. They spoke not to defend Church interests, but justice and mens' dignity, for every man, especially those who were more feeble and forced to endure unbearable injustices and inequalities. From this point of view, peace cannot be only a simply absence of armed conflicts; it is the result of an order impressed on human society by God Himself».
-In the Middle East, we see the small beam of a truce and the reprise of a role for Europe…
«Benedict XVI, who spoke about three rights - that of Lebanon's integrity as a sovereign Country, that of Israel's right to exist, and that of Palestinians' to have a homeland - launched many wholehearted appeals by clarifying, once more, that justice cannot be restored, nor a new order be created and an authentic peace built, by recurring to the arms' violence. As a matter of fact, Europe needs to find her role of mediator in order to favor a pacific solution that could not but be greeted as a positive fact. But I also want to address my thoughts to the Christians who find themselves caught in these burning conflicts, as they are paying a very high price in those martyrized areas of the world».
-Your designation was pre-announced three months before the nomination itself. May I ask you why?
«In this case, I am not the right person to answer. Perhaps it was to give me and the Genoa Diocese time to prepare for the change, since it is very unconventional to call a diocesan Bishop to the Secretariat of State».
English translation: Matteo Luigi Napolitano (Revised by William Doino, Weston Co.) - All the rights reserved