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VATICAN RADIO PROFILE

INTRODUCTION

Vatican Radio is the broadcasting station of the Holy See, legally recognised by the international bodies. It is a means of communication and evangelisation created to serve the Pope's ministry. Vatican Radio has a legal status and is located in Vatican City. Its main task is to proclaim the Christian message, freely, faithfully and efficiently, and keep the centre of Catholicism in contact with the rest of the world. It was inaugurated by Pius XI (Radio message “Qui arcano Dei”) on February 12th 1931, and is an active member and founder of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union, in Geneva) and member of the URTNA (Union of African National Radio and Television in Dakar). Vatican Radio represents the Holy See at the ITU (International Telecommunication Union, in Geneva) and at the CEPT (European Conferences of Post and Telecommunication Administrations). Vatican Radio however is not an official body of the Holy See and therefore takes full responsibility for the contents of its programmes.

PROGRAMMES

Vatican Radio broadcasts Church and religious news, offering the kind of information which cannot be found in other media. Firstly, it informs on events and activities of the Pope and the Holy See. Vatican Radio also covers political, social and economic affairs not only in the religious context, but also to help Christians to see in these events the signs of the times and to encourage them to behave and take decisions in the light of their faith. Through its Liturgy Programmes listeners, especially those who are isolated or restricted in their religious freedom, are offered the opportunity to follow spiritual events and worship. To a vaster audience, Vatican Radio broadcasts the celebrations presided over by the Holy Father in order to deepen the communion of the Church with the Successor of Peter. The programmes of Vatican Radio are for the most part dedicated to the various permanent features of Christian Catechesis: the Word of the Lord, the Church and Patristic Tradition, Theology, Christian values, the Social Doctrine of the Church, Church history and Christian associations. A special attention is given to ecumenism and to inter-religious dialogue, especially in those programmes which are addressed to parts of the world where Christians are a small minority. A fair consideration is also given to human culture and arts, especially music, more suitable with the technical nature of this means of communication, in line with a long Church tradition.

TASKS

Vatican Radio offers its collaboration and advice on broadcasting issues to Dioceses or Episcopal Conferences. Vatican Radio also assures the broadcasting, diffusion and distribution of international sound of all papal activities, inside and outside the Vatican. Moreover, Vatican Radio is entrusted with the task of keeping and preserving the recordings of all the papal speeches and ensuring that their pastoral character and copyrights are protected when used by other organisations.

STRUCTURE

The Holy See has entrusted the management of Vatican Radio to the Society of Jesus. With regards to its organisation, Vatican Radio has a General Management which is the head of its three main Departments: Programmes, Technical and Administrative. The specific activity of an international radio like Vatican Radio needs a highly qualified editorial and technical staff and an efficient organisation, both essential for the attainment of its objectives. The editorial staff of the Language Sections is coordinated by chief editors and heads of department who are charged with planning, producing and broadcasting the programmes. Most of the financial resources needed by Vatican Radio to pay its staff and cover its general expenses consist of donations offered by the faithful to support the pastoral work of the Holy See.