Media empire: Vatican moves from pen and parchment to DVDs, Web

Published: 2005-12-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Two hundred years ago, popes communicated with pen on parchment, in documents and letters secured with sealing wax. Today, Pope Benedict XVI's teachings and speeches are flashed around the world in real time on the Internet, and he is the star of the Vatican's own Web site. He gives interviews to Vatican Radio, and many of his daily events are broadcast via CTV, the Vatican Television Center, which runs a webcam on St. Peter's Square. The pope's mission is reflected in the Vatican's own newspaper, publishing house and printing presses. The Vatican press office organizes reporting pools and doses out official information to more than 400 permanently accredited journalists. Meanwhile, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications deals with photo, TV and radio reporters at the Vatican, helping them access what has become a global hot zone for news.

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