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The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has the responsibility of coordinating the seasonal telecasts of Papal ceremonies at Christmas and Easter, in addition to extraordinary events and ceremonies, broadcast around the world in Mondovisione. The telecasts are made freely available through a network of satellites from which television networks and outlets can receive and transmit the events to their own local, national or international audiences. The broadcasts are a coproduction of the Vatican Television Center (CTV) and Italy’s state television network (RAI).
The worldwide telecasts began officially in 1974 when forty-three countries linked-up with the Vatican to telecast the opening of the Holy Door and Midnight Mass on the eve of the Jubilee Year. Television commentaries in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish have also been provided by the Vatican. Since 1984 , Archbishop John P. Foley, former president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, has provided the English-language commentary to a global audience. Archbishop Foley says that the international telecasts of papal ceremonies are the most popular religious telecasts in the world. "These telecasts", he notes, "provide millions of people around the world, including many who are not Catholic, with a source of inspiration and consolation - and a reminder of the true purpose of life."
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A Brief Historical Outline of the Vatican’s
International Telecasts (in Mondovisione) Coordinated
by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
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| 2005 |
On April 8th the Funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II marked the most widely viewed telecast ever with over 84 countries and 155 TV networks participating. Weeks later on April 24th the Mass for the Inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI’s Pastoral Ministry linked over 75 countries and 124 TV networks.
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| 2004 |
Seventy-two countries are linked-up via satellite for the Christmas Midnight Mass and Christmas Day Message and Blessing Urbi et Orbi
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| 2003 |
Fifty-two countries and 87 TV networks broadcast the Beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta on October 19th.
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| Holy Year 2000 |
Sixty countries broadcast live on television the opening of the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica. Many countries telecast other Jubilee celebrations and events during the year.
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| 1978 |
Fifty-two countries broadcast live on television the election ceremonies of Pope John Paul II on October 16th.
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| 1974 |
Official start of the Vatican’s worldwide satellite telecasts of papal ceremonies: Archbishop (now Cardinal) Andrea Maria Deskur, President of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications, is entrusted by the Vatican Secretary of State with the coordination of the telecasts. The first worldwide satellite TV telecast was the opening of the Holy Door and Christmas Midnight Mass celebrated by Pope Paul VI in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Forty-three countries broadcast live the opening of the Holy Door (29 outside Europe via satellite and 14 in Europe via Eurovision).
The Knights of Columbus continue to offer their financial help to cover satellite uplink costs and downlink expenses for countries needing economic assistance. From 1974 onward, Christmas, Good Friday and Easter celebrations as well as extraordinary Papal and Church events are broadcast live on television around the world via satellite in Mondovisione.
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| 1969 |
Argentina and Chile are first two nations outside Europe to broadcast live on television the Christmas Midnight Mass celebration presided over by Pope Paul VI in the Sistine Chapel.
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| 1964 |
The Pontifical Commission for Social Communications is created with Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Letter motu proprio In Fructibus Multis (April 2).
Vatican City State is among the eleven founding state-members of INTELSAT - the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization - signing the Accord on August 20th in Washington, D.C.
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| 1954 |
On June 6th, the Feast of Pentecost, Pope Pius XII inaugurates the creation of Eurovision - eight European nations linked via radio and coaxial cable - greeting TV viewers with a speech in five languages. This date marked the beginning of live TV telecasts to Europe of Papal celebrations.
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| Holy Year 1950 |
Vatican Radio uses its own transmitters and the international telephone lines to reach 15-20 nations with live broadcasts of the celebrations.
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| 1949 |
Pope Pius XII appears in two separate filmed messages telecast in the United States of America on March 27th and in France on April 17th.
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| 1931 |
Pope Pius XI commissions Guglielmo Marconi - the inventor of radio - to build the Vatican’s own short wave radio station. The first broadcast and inauguration of the station took place on February 12th with the Pope’s greetings in Latin broadcast live around the world.
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