The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, has dismissed fears that Pope Benedict XVI plans to roll back major ecclesial changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council.

On the contrary, the German Pontiff has demonstrated his commitment to the Council during his more than four years as Pope, Cardinal Bertone told the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatiore Romano, in an interview published on August 27.

An Italian newspaper had reported that the Vatican’s worship congregation had given the Pope a document with proposed liturgical modifications, including a curb on the practice of receiving Communion in the hand. A Vatican spokesman later said that, at present, there were no institutional proposals for a modification of the liturgical books.

Cardinal Bertone pointed to several areas in which he said Pope Benedict had promoted the teaching of Vatican II with intelligence and depth of thought, including relations with Eastern and Orthodox churches and dialogue with Judaism and Islam. He said the Pope has also favoured an increasingly direct and fraternal relationship with the world’s bishops, as evidenced during their ad limina visits to the Vatican and in the freer discussions during synods of bishops.

Cardinal Bertone said the Pope does have a plan for “reform of the Church”, but it is one that focuses on personal holiness and fundamental questions of faith.

NZ Catholic