Made public today was a Message from the Holy Father addressed to Giovanni Maria Vian,
director of the "L'Osservatore Romano" newspaper, marking that publication's 150th
anniversary. Its first edition appeared on 1 July 1861. After reviewing the most
significant moments in the history of the daily, traditionally known as "the Pope's
newspaper", Benedict XVI writes that "over this century and a half the 'L'Osservatore
Romano' has, above all, testified to the service of truth and Catholic communion by
the See of Peter's Successor". "Over this period - often marked by a lack of points
of reference, by the removal of God from the horizon of many societies, even traditionally
Christian societies - the Holy See's daily newspaper has stood out as a 'newspaper
of ideas', as a source not just of information but of formation. Now it must remain
faithful to the role it has played over this century and a half", the Pope writes,
"attentive also the Christian East, to the irreversible ecumenical commitment of the
various Churches and ecclesial communities, to the constant search for friendship
and collaboration with Judaism and other religions, to the cultural debate, to the
voice of women, and to bioethical questions which are so decisively important for
everyone". (VIS)