14 May 2007
Interview for the newspaper Yomiuri of Japan
Kyoto, 14 May 2007
1. Most of our readers are not familiar with the “Città del Vaticano”. Would you explain the role and task of the Governor?
The reason behind the existence of the tiny, almost symbolic state of Vatican City is to guarantee the Pope’s independence from any political power so that he may be totally free in his mission of guiding the Catholic Church. The Governor of Vatican City State – more precisely the President of the Governatorato – makes sure that this tiny state functions properly.
2. Most important mission for the Roman Curia is to pastor and to protect the universal Church. How does Vatican City complement the Roman Curia?
The Roman Curia is the organ by which the Pope governs the Catholic Church all over the world. In this function the Vatican City State has no specific role. For the Holy See, the Vatican City State - as stipulated in the Lateran Treaty by which it was founded – establishes nothing other than the factual and legal conditions that assure the Holy See full independence and liberty in the international arena and it entitles the Holy See to interact on equal level with the governments of the states and the international organizations.
3. Some are saying that the current Pope is not so much enthusiastic about diplomacy as John Paul II. How do you answer to this opinion?
The same was said of Pope John Paul II in the beginning of his pontificate. For one and a half years I was Foreign Minister of the Holy See under John Paul II; then for one and a half years I was Foreign Minister under Benedict XVI and I can readily testify that his interest in the Holy See’s diplomatic activity and its commitment for the defense of religious freedom and for the promotion of peace and development in the world is no less keen than that of his predecessor.
4. Since 9/11 in 2001 acts of terrorism have been conducted under the name of God. As a religious leader how do you analyze this situation?
The causes of terrorism are interrelated: political, social, cultural and religious. Each of these causes calls for careful decisions and interventions by the relevant parties on national and international levels. The Catholic Church with its institutions and its members in several countries are objects of terrorist acts. At the end of every year the Holy See publishes in its newspaper “L’Osservatore Romano” the names of the priests and religious that have been brutally killed - tens of them each year. Certainly, terrorism sees Catholic institutions as a particular target, even though its activity goes far beyond.
5. Fundamental Islamists do not have monopoly on terrorism. Christians in Northern Ireland, Hindu in Sri Lanka for example. What do you see the roles of religions in the 21st century? What can religious leaders do to bring peace on earth? And what should each lay individual do?
I wish to emphasize that terrorism by the IRA in Northern Ireland has always been openly condemned by all Irish bishops and by the Pope. Furthermore, the Northern Irish terrorists have never justified their actions by invoking the Gospel - nor could they because the Gospel does not offer any pretext for violence. A religious aspect of the IRA’s acts of terrorism perhaps can be seen in the fact that the IRA sought to end the social discrimination of Catholics by Protestants. Islamic terrorists, on the contrary, consider their acts also as a war against infidels by invoking – unjustly so – the Koran. But all religious leaders should raise their voices to condemn terrorism.
Religion should lead mankind to love their fellow man as God, his creator, loves every man and woman. No religion can consider itself pleasing to God when it disseminates hatred. You ask what each lay individual can do. Each one can begin to be a builder of peace in his daily life. Jesus said: “Blessed are those who work for peace, for they shall be called children of God”. But before one can give peace to others, one must first have peace in his own heart because “wicked designs come from the deep recesses of the heart”, as the Gospel says.