Bono, CNS reporter and former Rome bureau chief, to retire

Published: 2006-11-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Agostino Bono, a staff reporter at Catholic News Service and former Rome bureau chief and foreign editor for CNS and its predecessor, National Catholic News Service, plans to retire after turning 64 Jan. 7. Since 1996 he has been working at the CNS Washington headquarters, first as wire traffic editor and then as a staff reporter specializing in Hispanic affairs and Latin American issues. During 2003 and 2004 he wrote a series of articles on how the U.S. bishops were implementing their policies to prevent child sex abuse by clergy and other church workers. "It's been a long ride," said Bono of his 28 years at CNS and his 42 years as a journalist. Bono began working as foreign editor in October 1978 shortly before the election of Pope John Paul II. In 1984, he was named Rome bureau chief, covering Pope John Paul during the years leading to the collapse of the Soviet bloc and accompanying the pontiff on 24 of his trips outside Italy. In 1994, he was named European editor, based in Rome.

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