What's up with Sodano?

[4_Legs_Good]

Sorry for being ignorant. I should know more about the guy. This is the first major (so far as I know) thing Ratzinger has done and I'm curious about how he did...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/30/pope.sodano.ap/index.html

david

[tjwmason]

1. Some consider that

Cardinal Sodano is one of the leading curial liberals alongside Cardinal Kaspar.

The Dean of the Sacred College is elected by the Cardinal Bishops, Pope Benedict has simply accepted and ratified that election.

Card. Sodano has been confirmed as the Vatican Secretary of State (roughly equivalent to Prime Minister for the State of the Vatican City), which position he held under John Paul II.

[Matilda]

2. He's one of those who kept the Vatican running during JPII's last years.

Seems to be fairly moderate, so that's a good sign all round.