Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo is a retired Vatican diplomat who served as the Holy See’s “foreign minister” before being appointed head of Vatican City State.

Born on January 3, 1935, in Novara, Italy, he was ordained priest on April 29, 1960, and pursued higher education, obtaining licentiates in theology and philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University, as well as a doctorate in canon law from the Kanonistiches Institut of Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany.

Lajolo’s service to the Church began in earnest when he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1970, initially serving at the nunciature in Germany. In 1974, he was called to Rome to serve on the Council for Public Affairs of the Church. His career continued to advance, and on October 3, 1988, he was appointed titular Archbishop of Caesariana and secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See. He was ordained bishop on January 6, 1989.

In December 1995, Lajolo was appointed apostolic nuncio in Germany, where he concluded several diplomatic accords with the Länder. His diplomatic career further flourished when he was appointed secretary for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State on October 7, 2003, the Vatican’s “foreign minister.” In this capacity, he represented the Holy See at the general assembly of the United Nations in September 2004 and 2006.

From September 15, 2006, to October 1, 2011, Lajolo served as the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

Cardinal Lajolo participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

His elevation to the cardinalate came on November 24, 2007, when he was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. He was initially assigned the Deaconry of Santa Maria Liberatrice a Monte Testaccio, which was later elevated pro hac vice to a Presbyteral title on May 19, 2018.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo demonstrated his dedication to the Church through his service in various diplomatic and administrative roles, contributing significantly to the Holy See’s relations with other states and the governance of Vatican City.