Papal ceremonies for Christmas 2007

Main Christmas Page

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has outlined the following broadcasting arrangements regarding the Papal ceremonies for Christmas 2007.

  1. Monday, December 24, 2007, Christmas Eve, 22:55 – 00.50 hours UTC (GMT) Midnight Mass, presided over by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Basilica.
  2. Tuesday, December 25, 2007, Christmas Day, 10:55 – 11:45 hours UTC (GMT) Christmas Message and Blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City of Rome and to the World”) of Pope Benedict XVI from St Peter’s Square.
The television broadcasts of these ceremonies will be a coproduction of the Vatican Television Centre (CTV) and Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI). Worldwide distribution will be offered through RAI, in cooperation with CTV, and coordinated by this Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Television networks and outlets which wish to broadcast these ceremonies should contact:

Europe
Eurovision – EBU (European Broadcasting Union)

For satellite feed:
Mr Piotr Azia (Eurovision – Geneva)
Email: azia@eurovision.net
Tel. +41 22 717 – 2846; Fax +41 22 747 – 4846

For commentary positions:
Ms Lucia Colafrancesco (RAI, Eurovision Office)
Email: newsprod@rai.it
Tel: +39 06 3317 – 1151/52; Fax +39 06 3317 – 0053

World
INTELSAT
Via Telespazio (Italy)

Mr Giacomo Salucci (Telespazio Customer Support)
Email: customer.support@telespazio.com
Tel: +39 06 4079 – 3487; Fax +39 06 407 – 1790

America Latina
Organización de Telecomunicaciones Iberoamericanas – OTI

Mr Dario de la Peña (OTI Director of Programs)
Email: otiprogramas@oti.tv
Tel +5255 5980 – 8112/8115; Fax +5255 5980 – 8117

Details concerning the various satellites and frequencies will be posted on the Pontifical Council for Social Communications' complementary website www.pccs.it (click on "Mondovisione"), in addition to texts and background information for television producers and commentators. For those unable to receive the broadcasts through the above service providers, alternative satellite reception possibilities can be explored (send email request to: telecast@pccs.va).

This Pontifical Council will also provide television commentary for the celebrations in: English, French, Spanish and, for those who request it, Portuguese; the RAI will provide the commentary in Italian. In addition to the television images, the INTELSAT satellites will transmit the international sound and commentary in English, French and Spanish.

Television networks and stations which, for technical reasons, cannot make use of satellite audio signals can use telephone circuits with the Vatican by contacting: Mr Joseph Soureal di Telecom Italia Sparkle, email: youssef/soureal@telecomitalia.it; Tel. +39 06 5274 – 4067; Fax +39 06 5274 – 4413.

For fully equipped television commentator positions in the Vatican, interested networks and outlets are asked to contact Ms Lucia Colafrancesco at RAI (cf.above).

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications will cover the technical expenses for satellite uplink. For developing countries which find themselves in particular difficulty, on recommendation of the respective Papal Representative, the Council will cover downlink expenses if no other free alternatives can be found, but not the expenses for local/national transmission of the programs.

If you have any questions or require more information, please visit: www.pccs.it (click on "Mondovisione") or contact this Pontifical Council's satellite telecasts coordinator, Mr Thaddeus Jones (telecast@pccs.va, Tel. +39 06 6988 4622, Fax +39 06 6988 5373