Vatican Radio at Ninety Vatican Radio Has Nourished People’S Hearts for Ninety Years

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Vatican Radio at Ninety Vatican Radio has nourished people’s hearts for ninety years. Two Jesuits, both working with Vatican Radio, tell us of its global significance.

The Vatican Gardens in the Vatican City State with Vatican Radio broadcasting tower in the background ArtMediaFactory/Shutterstock

Despite what might have been 41 languages and broadcasts on vari- thought, the radio continues to play ous platforms, including the internet. an important role all over the world. In Rome, some 20 Jesuits collaborate It is synonymous with proximity and daily in the radio production of RV. reaches large audiences who do not Two of them tell us in a few words the always have access to other media. In meaning of their commitment to this this context, Vatican Radio pursues its service of the Church. fundamental objective of a public service that seeks to nourish hope and to Jozef Bartkovjak SJ make available the voice of the Pope Chief of the Slovakian Desk while offering an interpretation of For eight years I have been leading current events in the light of the Gos- the Slovakian section of Vatican Radio, pel. It has done so again, and despite one of the small ones. We are a team the obstacles, throughout this long of three. Besides being a source of worldwide ordeal of the COVID-19 news from the Vatican seven days pandemic. a week, we offer people extensive Vatican Radio offers programmes in translations of the Holy Father’s recent

10 speeches and homilies. Accompany- Sanjay Dilip Ekka SJ ing him also on his visits abroad. We Hindi Desk use several channels: Vatican News As I finished my tertianship in 2015, portal, Vatican Radio, Facebook, I was missioned to Vatican Radio in newsletter by email. Rome. It was unexpected and sudden. Vatican Radio is a family of nations, However, I feel delighted and grateful a ‘redeemed Babel’. It also shows to God who invited me to embrace clearly how in the Church we help this mission. each other with complementary roles: In the beginning, meeting the lay people, priests, nuns. We Jesuits, everyday deadlines for the transmis- through our vows, can be free to sac- sion was quite demanding. It was like rifice almost anything for the mission, a marathon. I had to be on my toes and this thanks to the support of the and ‘to burn the night oil’ to be ready community. A generational chain is on time. I have been translating the also evident: I can say that I find inspi- speeches, homilies and catechetic ration in those teachings of the great predeces- Pope along with sors who worked Church docu- in the Slovakian ments, including programme Fratelli Tutti, into over the years Hindi. Our Hindi and we, in turn, programmes prepare and are followed by motivate young many Hindu and Jesuits for this Muslims in Asia. mission. I have been The aposto- personally late in the field moved and of media is for me a connection with touched by the translation work of all kinds of challenges. The first is the Pope’s messages: they are always to stay with God, otherwise all the accessible. So we constantly get effort is useless. Then the challenge feedback from our listeners. Many of being able to listen and discern have expressed that our programme where the truth is, to understand the touches them in the heart. meaning in the midst of all the turmoil Communicating the message of the and deception going on in the world. Holy Father, through Vatican Radio, Also the challenge of being a faithful to the Hindi listeners of the Universal interpreter of what the Pope says and Church has given me real joy and does. Then the challenge of choosing fulfilment: this mission has indeed the appropriate medium, both vocal brought about unique transformation and multimedia. that speak to the in me. hearts of my Slovakian people. Courtesy of SJ Curia News (Rome).