VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 20, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone says his first year as Benedict XVI's secretary of state was not easy, but acknowledged that it also brought a faith-rejuvenating excitement.
The 72-year-old cardinal was appointed secretary of state a year ago, Sept. 15. In an interview with the Italian daily Avvenire, the Pope's right-hand man considered the struggles and joys of his job.
"It was a hard year because of the tasks inherent to the office, but it was exciting at the same time," he said. He called it an excitement that "rejuvenates in the faith."
Cardinal Bertone recalled the conflict surrounding the misinterpretation of Benedict XVI's speech at Regensburg, delivered just three days prior to the cardinal's appointment.
"They were more or less turbulent days, and undoubtedly the consequences of a misinterpretation of the Pope’s discourse in Regensburg awakened concerns," he said. "But the following trip to Turkey put dialogue with Islam back on track. Now relations have resumed with the necessary reciprocal esteem and friendship."
Curia
Cardinal Bertone also spoke about the Roman Curia, addressing rumors that a reorganization is planned to streamline the efficiency of the Pope's closest collaborators. He said "it is a hypothesis that is still at the level of being studied and verified."
The secretary of state also addressed a perceived heavily-Italian presence in the Curia.
Cardinal Bertone noted: "The Pope is not Italian and at the present time there are 16 non-Italians who are heads of dicasteries, and only nine Italians. That said, the internationalization of the Holy See was, and is, a just decision and in a certain way overdue. But where someone comes from cannot be, positively or negatively, the only or dominant criterion in choosing the Pope’s closes collaborators."
Asked about the Pope's letter "Summorum Pontificum," issued "motu proprio" (on his own initiative), on the use of the 1962 Roman Missal, the cardinal said the reception has been serene.
"Moreover, if good sense prevails and not conflicting ideologies," he said, "I do not believe there will be problems in the application of 'Summorum Pontificum.' Visiting different local Churches, I am seeing that knowledge of the Latin language is declining and maybe we should not pass up the chance to recover it, for the heritage that it has passed on to us."
ZE07092007 - 2007-09-20