Tarcisio Bertone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Tarcisio Bertone SDB |
|
|---|---|
| Cardinal Secretary of State Emeritus | |
Bertone in 2010
|
|
| Appointed | 15 September 2006 |
| Reign ended | 15 October 2013 |
| Predecessor | Angelo Sodano |
| Successor | Pietro Parolin |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati (2008–present) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1 July 1960 |
| Consecration | 1 August 1991 by Albino Mensa |
| Created Cardinal | 21 October 2003 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone |
| Born | 2 December 1934 Romano Canavese, Kingdom of Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Previous post |
|
| Alma mater | Salesian Pontifical University (JCD) |
| Motto | Fidem custodire, concordiam servare (Protect faith, preserve unity) |
| Signature |  |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Tarcisio Bertone |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Frascati (Suburbicarian) |
Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone (born 2 December 1934) is an Italian Catholic leader and Vatican diplomat. He is a cardinal and a member of the Salesian religious order. He held important roles in the Catholic Church, including Cardinal Secretary of State from 2006 to 2013.
He also served as Camerlengo from 2007 to 2014. This role meant he was in charge of the Holy See (the Pope's main office) when there was no Pope. This happened between Pope Benedict XVI's resignation in February 2013 and Pope Francis's election in March 2013.
Cardinal Bertone speaks several languages. Besides Italian, he is fluent in French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese. He can also read Polish, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tarcisio Bertone was born in Romano Canavese, Italy, on 2 December 1934. He was the fifth of eight children in his family.
He joined the Salesian order on 3 December 1950. He became a priest on 1 July 1960. He studied canon law and earned a doctorate. Canon law is the set of rules and laws that govern the Catholic Church.
Bertone taught at the Pontifical Salesian University for many years. He was a professor of moral theology and canon law. He also helped with updating the Church's laws.
Becoming an Archbishop and Cardinal
On 4 July 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed Bertone as the Archbishop of Vercelli. He became a bishop one month later. He served in this role until 1995.
After that, he became the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This is an important office in the Vatican that helps protect Catholic teachings. He worked under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.
In 2002, he became the Archbishop of Genoa. Then, on 21 October 2003, he was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. Cardinals are special advisors to the Pope.
In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II asked Cardinal Bertone to help publish the third secret of Fatima. This was a message from the Virgin Mary that was revealed to three children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.
Cardinal Bertone was one of the cardinals who voted in the 2005 papal election that chose Pope Benedict XVI. He also voted in the 2013 papal election that chose Pope Francis.
Serving as Cardinal Secretary of State
.svg)
On 22 June 2006, Pope Benedict XVI chose Cardinal Bertone to be the Cardinal Secretary of State. This is a very important job, like being the Pope's chief of staff and foreign minister. He started this role on 15 September 2006.
On 4 April 2007, Pope Benedict XVI also appointed Cardinal Bertone as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. The Camerlengo is in charge of the Vatican when the Pope's position is empty, known as a Sede vacante.
When Pope Benedict XVI resigned on 28 February 2013, Cardinal Bertone, as Camerlengo, temporarily managed the Vatican City State. He was the acting head of state until a new Pope was elected.
On 13 February 2013, at Pope Benedict XVI's last public Mass before his resignation, Cardinal Bertone spoke. He thanked Pope Benedict for his leadership and deep love for the Church. He said that Pope Benedict's decision to resign showed great courage and humility.
Cardinal Bertone was a member of several important Vatican offices. These included the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for Bishops. He served in these roles until his 80th birthday in December 2014.
Retirement from Key Roles
Cardinal Bertone's retirement as Cardinal Secretary of State was announced on 31 August 2013. He officially left the role on 15 October 2013. Pope Francis chose Pietro Parolin to take his place.
A few weeks after his 80th birthday, Cardinal Bertone also retired as Camerlengo. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran took over this role on 20 December 2014.
In an interview in 2015, Cardinal Bertone shared that he was not surprised by Pope Benedict XVI's resignation. He had known about it for a long time before it happened.
Awards and Honors
Cardinal Bertone has received several important awards.
- In February 2010, the President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, gave him the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Poland. This award recognized his efforts in building cooperation between Poland and the Holy See.
- He also received the Gaudium et Spes Award from the Knights of Columbus in 2007.
Images for kids
-
Cardinal Bertone's signature
See also
In Spanish: Tarcisio Bertone para niños
