The Vatican's former Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone turns 80 years old on Tuesday December 2nd. That means he is no longer eligible to vote in an eventual conclave.
The Cardinal was a close confidant of Benedict XVI during his pontificate. In fact he was one of the few people who knew about his decision to resign, before it was made public.
CARD. TARCISIO BERTONE
February 2014
'He told me about it in mid-2012. I told the Pope all the problems that could arise if he resigned. But, he felt tired, his age weighed on him. He was concerned with World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. He would ask himself, 'At my age, how will I, address millions of young people?'â?
To celebrate his 80th birthday, the Cardinal invited Pope Francis and Benedict XVI to have lunch in the Vatican.
Bertone was appointed as the Vatican's Secretary of State in 2006 at the age of 72. He served until 2013. Eventually Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Pietro Parolin as the Vatican's new Secretary of State. Now retired, Bertone has collaborated with different Vatican Departments and is working on a book about his experience as Secretary of State.
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