Pope’s ‘PM’ hits out at Vatican ‘moles and vipers’

Pope Francis’s “prime minister” Tarcisio Bertone has lashed out against Vatican “moles and vipers” after it was announced he is being replaced with a top diplomat.

Secretary of State Bertone has been a powerful and divisive figure at the top of the Vatican hierarchy. His tenure coincided with dark moments for the Church, like the explosion of revelations about child abuse by priests and damaging leaks that pointed to intrigue and corruption in the Vatican.

The comments from the 78-year-old Italian cardinal, who was appointed by the previous pope, Benedict XVI, were quoted by Italian media. The Vatican said on Saturday he would be replaced on Oct 15 by veteran diplomat Pietro Parolin, who is currently the Vatican’s envoy to Venezuela.