Interview Of S.E. Mons. G. Lajolo With Vatican Radio 1. How did you receive your nomination as Cardinal? First of all: with gratitude to the Holy Father. The Holy Father wrote on the nomination ballet that, by including me among the Cardinals, he wanted to give me a sign of particular benevolence; next, with satisfaction for the City State, which, with the nomination of its President to the office of Cardinal, sees its role once again recognized as an instrument of the liberty and independence of the Pope and the Holy See. 2. How will you bear witness to the Gospel as a Cardinal? First: By observing the Ten Commandments as a good Christian; next, by remembering that we are priests, bishops, and cardinals not for ourselves, but for others; and finally, by further increasing, as much as possible, dedicated service to the Pope’s mission for the Church and for the world. 3. Two and a half years have passed since this Pontificate began: what has changed in the Church in this period? I would like to emphasize, first of all, the great continuity of this Pontificate with the one before. It is natural to attempt to identify the individuality of each pontificate, but what truly counts is that the Church is always the same, and its message is always the same: that of Christ, of Peter, of Paul, of Leone, of Pius, of John, etc. This is what is great and marvelous! The Church, in the meantime, has certainly changed a great deal, in parallel to the changes occurring within the societies of the Countries and in international relations. An analysis would take a great deal of time. There is much disorientation, disillusionment, and disappointment, but there is also a great deal of hope. Benedict XVI, I think, brought new energy to the Church with the encyclical Deus caritas est, which synthesizes in a coherent vision faith and reason, love and truth, the contemplative aspect, and a social and apostolic focus. Without losing sight of the body of the Church, he wants the attention of everyone to be turned primarily to Christ, as is evident in all of his sermons and in his book, Jesus of Nazareth. 4. What can Christians do to better carry Christ to those far away? There is so much. I was recently in Malawi, a small, poor country in Africa, and I saw how much the missionaries have done, and what great help has also come from the simple faithful or from private organizations of Catholics in Europe. The possibilities of action for those who wish to bear Christ abroad are infinite, because Christian love is infinitely inventive and effective. But the main, and most effective, recipes were given to us by Jesus Himself: first recipe: Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven – this is the example of the Christian life; second recipe: When you pray, say: Father, thy kingdom come. We must pray. God works – and the Kingdom works, the greatest miracle! – if we give them the tools of our faith.