Vatican Publishing house’s new premises inaugurated

January 15, 2013: For the last 10 years the Vatican publishing house has expanded its scope beyond liturgy and other sectors of the Magisterium to a vast Catholic culture of Italy and that of International, said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican’s Secretary of State, while inaugurating the new premise of the Vatican publishing house in the Vatican on Tuesday.
The Cardinal said that the opening of these new premises, in times of economic crisis, invites two simple observations, namely, first, the commitment of Vatican Publishing House to adapt the structures, to meet better the needs of the service and the organization. Secondly, the fact that the Holy See continues to pursue its traditional support to cultural initiatives, today in view of the new evangelization.
He said that ‘this increased commitment has naturally led to a revision of the entire organization of the Vatican Publishing House. The New office, without diminishing its center of the service to the Holy See and the Sovereign Pontiff, will also develop new points of sale, participation in international fairs, and sale of rights abroad.’ The new premise will host the archive, the commercial sector and the press office.
Publishing books means sharing ideas and ways of life. At the larger service of the ecclesial mission, it brings a universal broad perspective, bringing the Christian message, with its novelty and originality to the world of culture and its trends, said the Cardinal.
One of these novelty is that of the electronic book, which is envisaged, while recognizing at the same time that the paper book still has much to offer.
The new premises also offer better organization for the growth of all the various sectors: from production, distribution and sale of the product. This involves openness to new initiatives that the Vatican Publishing house did not have before, but they have become more and more urgent and pressing now, added Cardinal Bertone.