PRESS RELEASE
25 SEPTEMBER 2006
PAPAL CEREMONIES FOR CHRISTMAS 2006
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has outlined the following
broadcasting arrangements regarding the Papal ceremonies for Christmas 2006.
1) Sunday, December 24, 2006, 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) Monday, December 25, 2006, 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.
Television coverage of these ceremonies will be provided as a co-production of
the Vatican Television Center (CTV) and Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI). Worldwide
distribution will be offered through the RAI in cooperation with CTV, and
coordinated by this Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
Television networks and outlets which wish to take part in these global telecasts
are asked to contact:
Europe
Eurovision – EBU (European Broadcasting Union)
RAI, Eurovision Office, Sig.ra Laura Maggiore
Email: [email protected]
Fax +39 06 3317 1151; Tel. +39 06 3317 0053
World
INTELSAT / PanAmSat
Telespazio, Sig. Giacomo Salucci
Email: [email protected]
Fax +39 06 407 1790; Tel. + 39 06 4079 3487
America Latina
OTI (Organización de la Televisión Iberoamericana)
Sig. Darío de la Peña
Email: [email protected]
Fax + 52 55 5261-3607; Tel. + 52 55 5261-3610
Details concerning the exact 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 who cannot receive the transmissions
with the above services, alternative satellite reception possibilities can be
explored upon request.
This Pontifical Council will also make available, for those who request it, commentary
for the celebrations in any one of the following languages: English, French, Spanish
and Portuguese; RAI will make available commentary in Italian. In addition to the
television images, the INTELSAT and PanAmSat satellites will carry international
sound and commentary in the languages noted above.
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 of Telecom Italia, email: [email protected],
Fax +39 06 3689 4506, Tel. +39 06 3689 4067.
For fully equipped positions for television commentators in the Braccio di Carlo Magno,
next to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, interested networks and stations are
asked to contact Mrs. Laura Maggiore 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, 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
(“Mondovisione”) or contact this Pontifical Council’s satellite telecasts coordinator,
Mr. Thaddeus Jones ([email protected], Fax +39 06 6988 5373, Tel. +39 06 6988 4622).
Ends
Further information:
Martin Long Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Brenda Drumm Communications Officer (087 233 7797)