Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the renunciation of the position as Director of the Holy See Press office presented by Mr Joaquín Navarro-Valls, thanking him for his long and generous service. The Pope appointed in his place Italian Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, who will remain as Director General of Vatican Radio and Director of Vatican Television Centre.
Federico Lombardi was born in Saluzzo, Cuneo, northern Italy on 29 August 1942. In 1960 he entered the Novitiate of the Turin Province of the Society of Jesus at Avigliana. He studied philosophy at the Jesuit Aloisianum College at Gallarate, Varese; he obtained a degree in mathematics at the University of Turin; he studied for a licentiate in theology at the Jesuit Sankt Georgen Hochschule in Frankfurt am Main. Ordained a priest in 1972, from 1973 to 1977 he was part of the Collegio degli Scrittori della Civiltà Cattolica, becoming vice director of the college in 1977; Provincial of the Italian province of the Society of Jesus from 1984 to 1990, from 1991 to 2005 director of Vatican Radio programmes; in 2001 appointed Director General of Vatican Radio in 2005 Director of Vatican Television Centre.
In a statement at the Holy Press office Mr Joaquín Navarro-Valls said: “I am deeply grateful to the Holy Father for accepting my resignation offered several times as Director of the Holy See Press Office, after so many years. I am aware that in all these years I have received much more than I have given and much more than I am able to fully comprehend.”
In a letter addressed to Mr Navarro-Valls and all the journalists accredited to the Holy See, Father Lombardi writes among other things: “as I prepare to assume this new duty at the Holy See Press Office I am naturally grateful to the Holy Father and my superiors for the great trust shown, but my thoughts go especially - and affectionately - to you Joaquin, to you all and to all our information colleagues called to serve. For some time like you I have worked to make the activity of the Holy Father and the reality of the Church objectively and properly known and understood. Dr. Navarro-Valls has carried out his long service in this field with exceptional skill, intelligence and dedication. We are all deeply grateful to him and will continue to rely on his friendship. In no way can I imitate him but rest assured that I am fully committed to serving with my limits and with all my energies the Holy Father and your own important work”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/7/2006 - righe 31, parole 450)
