” ““If the Church is a ship that must face ever-new challenges for the evangelisation of the world, we know very well that the Pope is its helmsman and that the Holy See, in general, with all of its well-organised structure, is like the prow of this ship”. This image has been recalled this morning by card. Angelo Sodano, in his farewell speech to Benedict XVI during the audience granted by the Pope today in Castelgandolfo to card. Sodano and card. Tarcisio Bertone, on the occasion of the handing over of the Vatican Secretariat of State. After thanking the Pope for “this brotherly meeting”, also with the collaborators of the Secretariat of State, card. Sodano compared the latter to the “famous bees that distinguish the coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII” for their daily work. Then, Card. Sodano highlighted that “a thank-you must be given not so much to me, as to those people who have helped me over these years” and who will continue their job “made of discretion and great confidence in the Lord”. Card. Sodano asked the Pope to give them a “word of encouragement”, so that “they can continue helping you in the lofty mission that the Holy Spirit entrusted to you”.
