” “"A widespread idea is that Christians have to obey countless commandments and prohibitions and that you can be more free without all these burdens. I would like to point out that being supported by a great Love is not a burden and that it is wonderful to be a Christian". These words were spoken by Benedict XVI, in his first interview as Pontiff with Radio Vatican, on the eve of the 20th World Youth Day. The interview, that was made in the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo by the director of the German programme of the pontifical radio station, Father Eberhard v.Gemmingen, will be broadcast today at 4 p.m. during the News in German and then in the News in French at 6 p.m., in English at 6.15 and in Italian at 9 p.m.. The unabridged version of the interview will be broadcast on Monday 15 August (3 p.m.) during the programme devoted to the WYD (Stop Precedence to those who think). The interview will also be broadcast in the 40 languages of Vatican Radio, including Chinese, Hindi, Russian and Arabic, and will be available on www.radiovaticana.org. Among the issues dealt with by the Pope: youth, the crisis of values, the wisdom of Faith, the "youth" of the Church after 2000 years, ecumenical engagement. The Pope also dwells on the Christian roots of Europe, hoping that the WYD in Cologne may give "new impulse also to the Old Continent".
