Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Vatican Secretary of State expected in office on Saturday

Vatican Secretary of State expected in office on Saturday

Last updated on: November 13, 2013 at 11:10 am by CNA Daily News

Vatican Secretary of State expected in office on Saturday 2013-11-13T11:10:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Nov 13, 2013 / 04:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Vatican City's Secretary of State, who has reportedly been ill, will arrive in Rome next Saturday to undertake his post, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state emeritus, announced Nov. 12.

Cardinal Bertone stated, “(I) had a phone call with my successor, Archbishop Parolin, who will take his post next Saturday.”

The former secretary of state's comment came at the conclusion of a presentation of his new book, published in Italian, called “Vatican Diplomacy in a Globalized World.” The book is a selection of his diplomatic interventions whilst secretary of state, a post he held from 2006 until Oct. 15 of this year.

It was announced on Aug. 31 that Archbishop Parolin would be replacing Cardinal Bertone as secretary of state. He was appointed Oct. 15, but was unable to take part in the ceremony by which he formally assumed his new position because he needed to undergo an urgent – though not grave – surgery, according to what Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See press office, said during a media briefing that day.

It is understood that Archbishop Parolin, who is 58, has now fully recovered from his Oct. 15 surgery.

Since that day, no medical updates have been provided about the health conditions of the archbishop, purportedly to respect his right to privacy.

At first, Vatican sources spoke about a surgery for appendicitis, though other sources explained that Archbishop Parolin suffered from gallstones. Yet none of these rumors had been confirmed.

After that, it was rumored that Archbishop Parolin was ready to return to Rome and had fixed appointments for the week of Oct. 27. But Fr. Lombardi dismissed these rumors in an informal media briefing held Oct. 25.

At that time, Fr. Lombardi reported that the archbishop's surgery had taken place but would be followed by a convalescing period, without describing the surgery or specifying the length of time for recuperation.

According to several Vatican sources who asked for anonymity, Archbishop Parolin had spent some time in Rome in the week before that of Oct. 15.

Following that, he went back to his home tome of Schiavon, about an hour outside Venice. While there he went to the emergency room over a stomach ache, where the doctor, supposing he had appendicitis, planned his Oct. 15 surgery.

On further investigation, the sources report, the physician discovered that Archbishop Parolin in fact has cancer in his liver, and he was sent to a hospital in Padua.

According to a Vatican source who spoke to CNA Nov. 12 under conditions of anonymity, the cancer was not so grave as to require a transplant of the organ.

Archbishop Parolin underwent a surgery in which the part of liver affected by cancer was removed, and then remained in Padua to recover.

According to sources, no chemotherapy is needed, and Archbishop Parolin has just needed to undergo frequent medical checks.

On Nov. 11, the Vatican had announced that the secretary of state had sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis to the Filipino president, expressing the Holy Father's solidarity with those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

A Vatican delegation, which would usually be headed by the secretary of state, will on Nov. 14 go to the Quirinale, the official residence of the Italian president.

The visit will consist of a twofold dialogue: between Pope Francis and Italian president Giorgio Napolitano; and between Italy’s prime minister Enrico Letta and his Vatican counterparts, a delegation normally headed by the secretary of state.

In a media briefing held Nov. 12, the Quirinal Palace's press officer maintained that the Vatican has yet to communicate to Napolitano's office who will head its delegation.

The press officer asserted that it is probable the Holy See is waiting until the last minute, to see if Archbishop Parolin will be able to head the delegation.

Given Cardinal Bertone's announcement that the secretary of state will not be in Rome until Saturday, it has been suggested that the delegation will in fact be led by Archbishop Giovanni Becciu, the Secretariat of State's substitute for general affairs.

Prior to his appointment as secretary of state, Archbishop Parolin had been apostolic nuncio to Venezuela, a post he held from 2009.

Vatican

Previous Post

November 13, 2013

Vatican bombing in WWII was work of Italian fascists, author says

Next Post

November 13, 2013 Baptism is a 'bath of regeneration,' says Pope

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books of the Bible are named after women?

Select your answer to see how you score.

2 4 3 1