Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Fides Service) - Vatican Radio is marking the 40th anniversary of its service to spread the Gospel in Asia at the service of the Pope and the peoples of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In these years it has helped Catholics and people of all faiths on the sub-continent build harmony, dialogue, respect and pluralism.
As Jesuit Fr Alfie Ben, head of Vatican Radio India Desk said “we receive letters from many non Christian listeners who say Vatican Radio programmes helped them give more signifcance to life and to spread a message of harmony and brotherhood in many different environments and situations”.“Our Radio is Christian and our motive in Jesus Christ. But our programmes are undoubtedly enriched by India’s immense spiritual patrimony”, he said.
Vatican Radio has five centres in southern Asia e: three in India in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Jharkhand; one in Nepal and one in Sri Lanka.
Vatican Radio broadcasts to an average audience of 20,000 regular listeners and publishes a monthly bulletin in English, Tamil, Hindi, Urud and Malayalam circulated in more than 100,000 copies. It also has a web page where listeners can hear and unload programmes. Subjects covered by programmes of information and formation include religion and spirituality as well as social and moral issues. Fr Alfie Ben said: “We work to spread the teaching of the Catholic Church and to report news from a Christian point of view. This is to serve the cause of truth, peace and justice rather than individual personal interests”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2005 righe 26 parole 271)
