Make Text Larger Make Text Smaller Email this Article to a Friend Print this Article

Latin helps journalist get scoop on Pope

Published: February 11, 2013

Lightning strikes over the Vatican last night

---

An Italian journalist who beat the world's media on Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign got the scoop on the utterly unexpected news thanks to her knowledge of Latin, according to an AFP report in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Our Vatican expert, Giovanna Chirri, was listening to the Pope's speech," the ANSA news agency's head of information Luigi Contu told AFP.

"At one point, the Pope stopped talking about the consistory. Chirri understood he was saying he was tired, that the pressure was too much, and that he was going to stop," he said.

Chirri rushed to call Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi to confirm the news but got no reply.

At that point, Lombardi rang back and at 11.46am Rome time, ANSA's alert was picked up by news agencies around the world.

FULL STORY Latin helps journalist get scoop on Pope (SMH)

 

Response to articles is welcome. Simply follow the prompts to post your comment. No posting of more than 250 words will be published. While critical comment on stories and issues is welcomed, postings that descend to personal attacks on or impugn the integrity of other commentators will be blocked. Please use your own name, or initials, eg John Brown, or JB, or JAB, or Johnny. You are also required to add your location - as in, Sunshine, Victoria. Please provide your email address in the line supplied, followed by your contact phone number. These are requested for identification purposes only and will not be published. If you have any problems, please email news@cathnews.com


 


Recent Comments

  1. This is fascinating! Was it not a woman who was the first witness of the ressurection?

  2. Do you think the Spirit was trying to get something through to us, Peter?
    More seriously, what wisdom to know when to chose to hand over to someone younger.
    My prayer is for the graces of wisdom and love as the Cardinals discern the will of the Lord in choosing our next Shepherd.

Bookmark and Share

More from this section

  1. US nuns hope for Sister-friendly Pope

    Now that the Vatican has begun its search for a new leader of the Catholic Church, American nuns are hoping that the next pope will be a little more sister-friendly, reports Women's Agenda.

  2. Changing world requires fixed-term Pope, says Geelong priest

    Pope Benedict's shock resignation should usher in a new understanding of the role in the modern world, according to Geelong Catholic priest Fr Kevin Dillon, reports The Geelong Advertiser. He said he hoped a cardinal with strong pastoral experience would become successor and that the time might be right to consider limiting papal reigns to set periods.

  3. Catholics in outback NSW rejoice at news that diocese will stay

    Catholics in Broken Hill have welcomed news that the Wilcannia-Forbes diocese will no longer be split up, reports the ABC.

  4. Resignation is great timing for new book on the Vatican

    The Pope's shock resignation has boosted interest in all things Catholic just as veteran Vatican journalist John Thavis is about to publish a behind-the-scenes look at the faith's fabled nerve centre, reports Reuters on Yahoo7. The Vatican Diaries goes on sale just one week before the pope steps down, and the author talks about what is in it.

  5. Standing ovation for Pope in emotional farewell address

    Pope Benedict was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation in an emotional farewell by thousands of followers at two of his final public appearances. Benedict, seen by the public for the first time since announcing his resignation, looked tired but healthy as he began his General Audience in a big Vatican audience hall, followed by a Mass in St Peter's Basilica, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

Church Resources provides a range of services for the Church and not-for-profit sector, including aggregating buying power for a wide range of products and services used by health, welfare, aged care, education and parish organisations. More »

Mass streamed live daily

From Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara, in the Broken Bay Diocese.
Weekdays live at 9.30am
Saturdays live 9.30am (followed by Adoration and Benediction)
Sundays live 9.30am
Click on this link at the appropriate time to connect.

Subscribe

To receive headlines from our faith-based news services, please subscribe below.

Email address

Newsletter


 

News Feed

Subscribe to the CathNews RSS feed to get the daily edition automatically delivered to you.
Subscribe to Faith Project RSS.