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ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE, NEW SECRETARY OF STATE
WITH HIS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS

Papal Summer Residence, Castel Gandolfo
Monday, 18 September 2006

 

Your Eminence,
Dear Friends,

Once again, I am pleased to greet here in public the new Secretary of State and his whole family. We became acquainted when His Eminence was Consultor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was very helpful to me in certain difficult talks that took place in 1988.

Then, when dear Mons. Bovone moved to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, we had to find a new Secretary for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. And I did not need to think about it for long, because the memory of our work together was so vivid that I realized the Lord had already pointed out to me Mons. Bovone's Successor.

And very beautiful years of collaboration in the Doctrine of the Faith followed. St Eusebius of Vercelli was always present; I do not know whether this practice of invoking him to safeguard the faith continues today. We did all we could. I had the possibility of seeing Vercelli and of getting to know that beautiful Archdiocese.

At the time, in coming to the Congregation Cardinal Bertone "lost" the purple he had had in Vercelli. Then, in going to Genoa, he recovered the purple and he also had the opportunity to see the beauties of Genoa.

Then, the time came for some of the Cardinals of the Curia who had been born in 1927 to hand in their resignation. Thus, I once again remembered the years of our work together and the Lord granted me this grace of your "yes", Your Eminence.

Let us start out together on our way with courage. I am glad to see that you are supported by a strong family. My greetings to you all!

 

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