Pope Benedict XVI visits Vatican Radio on its 75^th anniversary celebrations.

(March 03, 2006) : Pope Benedict XVI visited Vatican Radio on Friday March 3^rd to mark its 75^th anniversary celebrations. Vatican Radio is situated at the foot of Via della Conciliazzione that stretches from St. Peter’s Square towards the river Tiber. The Radio nicknamed as ‘Pope’s Voice’ was inaugurated by Pope Pius XI on 12^th February 1931. Beginning with half a dozen European languages, Vatican Radio today broadcasts religious and humanitarian programs in more than 40 different languages worldwide. On his arrival to Vatican Radio Pope Benedict went immediately to the 4th floor, to bless a plaque honouring the memory of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. Prior to his election as Pope John Paul II, the Polish prelate made a number of radio broadcasts in Polish-- just as Pope Benedict, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, frequently provided interviews for the German-language service of the Vatican Radio.

As the Pontiff toured the offices of Vatican Radio, he greeted journalists and technicians of various language groups on each of the four floors of Palazzo Pio. While meeting the staff of five language groups of the Indian Desk for South Asia, the Holy Father praised the good work of spreading the Good News to the people of that region. On behalf of Indian Desk for South Asia, the Director, Fr. Alfie Ben garlanded the Pope. On this occasion, Pope’s biography written in Marathi by Raymond Machado of the English Section and two Tamil Program books written by Fr. Jesudas Mappa from the Tamil section, were unveiled by the Pontiff. The Pope then answered several quick questions from Italian journalists at the ‘105 Live’ studio that is broadcast in Rome. Having paid a short visit to pray in the chapel of Annunciation on the 2^nd floor, the Pontiff delivered an address to the staff of Vatican Radio from Sala Marconi.

In his address Pope Benedict thanked the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach and all other Jesuits who have rendered dedicated service to the Church through Vatican Radio from its inception. The Holy Father then thanked the Director General of VR Fr. Federico Lombardi for his words of welcome on behalf of the entire staff of the Vatican Radio. In his discourse Pope Benedict sent greetings to the staff and their family members and thousands of listeners of Vatican Radio worldwide.

“It was 75 years ago that Pope Pius XI assigned Radio engineer, Guglielmo Marconi with the task of establishing an instrument of long distance communication through which the Church was able to spread its message throughout the world,” the Pope said. “The first radio message transmitted from VR on 12 February 1931, inaugurated the history of VR, the message which was meant for all people of good will in the world,” the Pontiff recollected. After narrating the history of VR over the past 75 years, the Pope had words of praise for the modern means of Communication, especially the Satellite and the Internet, that have helped broadcast programs in various languages of all the continents.

Pope Benedict then referred to the words written on the façade of Palazza Pio, which state: “Assist Oh Christ and inspire all those who work here to combat in your name.” “Truly”, the Pope said, “yours is a good battle of faith according to the words of Apostle Paul, to spread the message of Christ, to bind the universal Church to the centre of Catholicism in Rome, to spread the teachings of the Church and to inform about the activities of the Holy See.” Encouraging the staff of Vatican Radio to make the best use of the modern means of broadcasting, Pope Benedict urged them to cultivate a spirit of prayer and to be faithful to the teachings of Christ and His Church.

Pope Benedict then concluded his address with his apostolic blessings to the staff, their family members and Vatican Radio’s listeners worldwide. The papal visit to Vatican Radio concluded with the Director General, Fr. Federico Lombardi, thanking His Holiness for the visit.