Rome, Italy, Sep 12, 2013 / 12:16 pm
New Vatican Secretary of State Archbishop Pietro Parolin said Pope Francis' reform efforts are not revolutionary, but stem from a fidelity to Christ and continuity with foundational Church teachings.
In an interview with the Venezuelan daily El Universal, he said that the Pope's vision does not include "returning to the past" in external ways, but "returning to the fundamental principles of the Church."
Archbishop Parolin, who was until now the Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela, will assume his new post as the Vatican's Secretary of State on Oct. 15, succeeding Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
In his remarks to the paper, he said he wanted "to underscore the question of continuity because at times it seems (and I don't know if I am exaggerating) that Pope Francis is going to revolutionize and change everything."