Pope visits Secretariat of State, source of daily 'pile of documents'

Published: 2005-05-23

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI visited the source of what he said was a daily "pile of documents" -- the Vatican Secretariat of State. The pope met May 21 with top officials of the secretariat in the office library, located across the courtyard from his office and apartment in the Apostolic Palace. "I came without any words written down, but with a heart full of deep gratitude and with the intention of learning," Pope Benedict said, according to a transcript released later by the Vatican press office. The Vatican Secretariat of State coordinates the daily work of the entire Roman Curia, as well as overseeing relations with more than 170 governments and dozens of international agencies. Even in countries where the Vatican does not have an ambassador, it has a representative to the local church who keeps the Secretariat of State informed about the life of the church.

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