Former Secretary of State claims he was victimised

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the former Vatican Secretary of State, has claimed that he was victimised for trying to bring about reforms on abuse and transparency, writes Hannah Roberts.

The cardinal left office in 2013 amid claims that he had failed to prevent ethical and financial scandals during the papacy of Pope Emeritus Benedict. The Italian, now 80, was criticised for suggesting gay sexuality was to blame for the Church’s child-abuse scandals. Last year, he was placed under investigation in connection with a sum of €15 million that was paid from Vatican bank accounts to a television production company.

He told the Italian edition of Huffington Post he had “taken steps, initiated procedures, reformed offices and made appointments that resulted in progress or exclusion of people […] This could have led to dissatisfaction.”