Here’s the link – scroll down to "Live-Mitschnitt" to hear the song.
Also over at the Forum, hop between various forum categories for articles about the Bertone appointment – I don’t have time to really clip n quote here, but the general analysis from the European press was that this was an appointment hard fought for by Benedict and against by some within the Curia, especially the Secretariat of State. From Magister’s blog: (scroll down):
Sodano’s departure has been up in the air for some time. But a series of losing moves on his part has preceded his departure.
For example, Sodano stood squarely to the end in defense of Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, who has been accused of serious offenses. But we all know how it ended: Maciel was publicly asked by the CDF and by the Pope to retire to a “private life of prayer and penitence.”
Another example: Sodano sought to have cardinal Camillo Ruini removed as president of the Italian bishops conference. But here too, Benedict XVI thought diffrently and confirmed Ruini in his position for an indeterminate period.
From France (scroll down a little further)
And thus, little by little, we see the emergence of Benedict’s Curial reform, which appears to revolve around international representation, prior experience in the Curia, and a simplification of structures.
As Cardinal Ratzinger, this Pope was a witness to the growth of a Vatican bureaucracy that became almost a quasi-autonomous government under a Pope who was often out of the country. Now, as Pope, he is regrouping the various pontifical councils created after Vatican-II.
In March, he provisionally placed the council for justice and peace and the council for migrants under one president, and the same thing for the councils on culture and on inter-religious dialog.
Next, it is planned for the council on the family to merge with that on health and the laity. Similarly, all the organs of communications at the Vatican (Press Office, Osservatore Romano, Radio Vatican, CTV) may soon be grouped under a single ‘ministry’ for communications.
This reform of the Roman Curia follows principles dear to this Pope who is a theologian rather than a politician – a lightening of the bureaucratic structure and minimal exercise of pontifical power
And then an interview with an acquaintance of Bertone’s
Known in the Curia more as a man of doctrine, now he will be in the Secretariat of State…
Yes, it’s very interesting, because it confirms that Benedict XVI wants to give doctrine first place in the government of the Church. One must remember that until Paul VI, the Holy Office (which was then renamed CDF), was always considered supreme – first among all the dicasteries – especially since the Pope himself was its Prefect, so it had a certain autonomy.
One of the effects of Vatican-II was to reduce this power. The Secretary of State, of course, always had great importance as the Prime Minister who coordinates the others and is involved in all matters of importance. But that office gained even more importance since Paul VI.
One might say that the Pope now wants to give back to the CDF its supremacy. And choosing as his Prime Minister someone who had been his #2 man at CDF shows that he is balancing off the two dicasteries.
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