February 14, 2012: "A free radio, an independent and pluralistic society are of vital
importance for the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedom" said Irina Bokova,
Director General of UNESCO, in her message on the first World Radio Day, celebrated
on Monday, 13 February 2012. A celebration was held in Pisa the first city chosen
to celebrate the event in Italy, where over a hundred years ago Guglielmo Marconi
built the intercontinental station. In an interview to RV, Jesuit Father Federico
Lombardi, director general of Vatican Radio, said that ‘invention of the radio was
a new way through which the human community communicate. And today we are the voice
of hope and freedom in the world.’ Asked about the old adage that ‘the radio is
a "poor sister" of television’, Father Lombardi said that we need to take into account
the flexibility of radio medium compared to visual or written media. The radio prevents
the degeneration of the spectacle that we have in television. Radio has a way to come
closer to the people and remains a great value. Also, radio is the medium that uses
music as a form of art and we know how important music is in today's world of communication,
especially among the younger generations, he elaborated. Among other things, radio
is also a medium that does not require huge investment and is therefore more affordable
for local communication initiatives. Asked about Vatican Radio’s 81st
year celebration, the Director General said it was a great opportunity to retrace
its history, reflect on its mission at the service of the Pope and the Church for
spreading the message of the Gospel. He recalled VR’s contributions during great
tragedies like World War and thrilling moments like the Second Vatican Council. VR
wants to be a voice of hope and wisdom, inspired by the Gospel in supporting the teaching
of the Holy Father- Father Lombardi said. VR is basically a radio station, but
a radio that evolves into the world of multimedia and digital convergence: it publish
books written on the Internet, we do video news, we have developed a player that we
live images we receive from the Vatican Television Center. We are no longer just a
radio, even if we keep attention and abilities to a type of communication that has
a language which is quick, timely and topical. Of the future of Vatican Radio,
he said, the vocation of Vatican Radio as a voice for freedom, and for the support
of the poor, remains the same, he added.