Vatican City, May 22, 2005 / 22:00 pm
On Saturday, Pope Benedict held a meeting with a group of the most prominent prelates in the Vatican, saying that, "I have come here with no written speech, but with a sense of vibrant gratitude in my heart, and with the intention to learn.”
The meeting, held with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, the substitute for General Affairs, Archbisbop Leonardo Sandri, the secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, their assistants and all the collaborators in both the First and Second Sections of the Secretariat of State, was a chance for the Pope to collaborate with his advisors and learn from their experience.
Cardinal Sodano spoke in the name of all officials present as well as of those who work in pontifical representations throughout the world. Afterward, the Holy Father spoke in off-the-cuff remarks, saying, “I am slowly learning something about the structure of the Secretariat of State, especially as each day a pile of documentation arrives, of work done in this Secretariat of State.”
“And so I see,” he said, “from the variety, density and even competency concealed in this work - just how much is done here in these offices."