Archbishop Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s new Secretary of State, says that it’s very easy to work with the Holy Father because of his simplicity and because he “tries to help and not complicate things.”
The archbishop said this Wednesday when he was at the presentation of a book titled “Between Ethics and Enterprise: The Person at the Center,” by Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Madariaga, in collaboration with Giuseppe Colaiacovo and Manlio Sodi.
About his work in these first days in the Vatican, the Pope’s right-hand man said: “I am just starting; when one begins it isn’t always easy, especially a job as demanding and of such great responsibility as is that of the Secretary of State. But, with the help of God and beside Pope Francis I hope to fulfill my task.”
The 58-year-old Italian prelate, who began his work later than expected because of surgery, said about his state of health that he felt well and that “thanks be to God everything has ended.”
He also said that “it’s very easy to work with the Pope, because, as everyone knows, he is a man who is very simple and very close, who tries to help and not complicate things.”
“I am at ease and I hope that this collaboration will grow day after day for the glory of God and of the Church,” he concluded.
Archbishop Parolin himself opened the presentation of the book. In his intervention, he mentioned that the moment of economic crisis that we are living has behind it a profound anthropological crisis. He added that the economy must always be at the service of man and not the other way around. Referring to the title of the work presented, he stressed the importance of putting the person back at the center and that the person can never be a means in any activity or circumstance. Moreover, he pointed out that the Church has the responsibility to communicate the hope that comes from the Gospel and not only hope but also joy, as Francis says in his Apostolic Exhortation. Likewise, it is necessary to “support the commitment of all in the construction of a more just society more worthy of man, a society open to hope and not shut-in on itself in the defense of the interests of a few, but open to the perspective of the common good.”
For his part, Honduran Cardinal Maradiaga mentioned the Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church, held at Verona on November 21-24 with the motto “Less Inequalities, More Differences.” The Cardinal expressed the desire that it be held in more places because it is “a sign of hope.” Reflecting further on the main theme of the book, he pointed out the need for more people in the business world who go beyond only seeking money, and pursue the common good. “These are the ones we need,” he said.
The cardinal said it is important for the Church and priests to have knowledge of the economy. He recalled when he headed the Economic Committee of CELAM, the Latin American bishops’ council, and his attempt to establish relations with institutes of economy who said, “priests know nothing about economics.” That is why he decided to study it on his own. Reflecting on the difficulties that are causing the economic crisis, he suggested the need for creativity, research and risk “because one can think in a different way when it comes to the economy.”
