Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who served as secretary of state during Benedict XVI’s pontificate, is a retired Salesian canonist whose service to the Church spanned several decades but who became mired in controversy towards the end of his ecclesiastical career.

Born on December 2, 1934, in Romano Canavese, Italy, was ordained as a Salesian priest in 1960, and began his journey in the Church as a professor of moral theology and canon law at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome from 1967 to 1991.

Bertone’s expertise in canon law led to his involvement in the 1983 revision of the Code of Canon Law. He also served as a consultant to various Church bodies, including the then Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. His ecclesiastical career progressed rapidly, with appointments as Archbishop of Vercelli (1991-1995) and later Archbishop of Genoa (2002-2006).

In 2003, Pope John Paul II elevated Bertone to the rank of cardinal. His most significant appointment came in 2006 when Pope Benedict XVI named him Vatican Secretary of State, effectively making him the second highest-ranking official in the Church hierarchy. His choice was unusual and somewhat contentious as normally the position is held by a seasoned Vatican diplomat. Bertone had no experience in that area.

In 2007, he was appointed Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, overseeing Church finances and property.

Bertone’s tenure as secretary of state was marked by several controversies and challenges. In 2006, he had to address the diplomatic backlash against Pope Benedict XVI’s comments about Islam, which were perceived as critical of the prophet Muhammad. He also defended the Church against accusations of proselytizing in Russia and former Soviet republics.

In 2007, Bertone staunchly defended Pope Pius XII against claims of appeasing Adolf Hitler and failing to intervene on behalf of Jews during the Holocaust. He also criticized media coverage of the Church’s sexual abuse scandal, claiming it was disproportionately negative and biased.

In 2010, he made statements that were interpreted as linking pedophilia and male homosexuality, drawing criticism but also widespread support.

Bertone’s management of the Roman Curia and the Vatican bank came under scrutiny due to security and financial scandals. The most notable incident was the “Vatileaks” scandal in 2012, involving the theft of confidential Vatican documents by Pope Benedict’s butler.

In 2014, Bertone faced allegations of using funds from a children’s hospital to refurbish his apartment. While he was not charged or under investigation, the trial of two former hospital officials threatened to reveal embarrassing details about the deal. Bertone maintained his innocence and made a donation to the hospital, though the circumstances remained contentious.

In 2018, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò claimed that as a Vatican official in 2006, he had sent Cardinal Bertone an “Indictment Memorandum” detailing alleged abuse by Theodore McCarrick but the memo “was never returned to me with any actual decisions by the superiors on this matter.” He also accused Bertone of ignoring a second memorandum warning about McCarrick in 2008.

Cardinal Bertone retired as Secretary of State in October 2013 and stepped down as Camerlengo in 2014 at the age of 80. His tenure remains one of the most controversial in modern Vatican history, marked by numerous scandals and intrigues that affected the Church’s reputation and operations. Many of them were beyond his control but his handling of some of them drew criticism.

The cardinal participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Although retired, the Vatican lists him as a member of the Dicastery for the Evangelization.