WASHINGTON (July 18, 2003) -- The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Social Communications has released information for broadcasters regarding coordination of worldwide telecasts of the Mass to be celebrated by Pope John Paul II for the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and to mark the 25th anniversary of his election to the papacy.

On Sunday, October 19, 2003, 7:55 A.M.-10:30 A.M., UTC (GMT), Pope John Paul II will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square for the Beatification of Mother Teresa, and the silver anniversary of his election as Pope.

Television coverage of these ceremonies, for worldwide distribution, will be provided by RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana in cooperation with the Vatican Television Center and coordinated by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

These telecasts will be available in Europe, through the EBU (European Broadcasting Union-Eurovision); in the rest of the world, through INTELSAT; in parts of Latin America, also through PANAMSAT.

Television networks and stations which wish to take part in these worldwide telecasts are asked to contact:

--in Europe, RAI, Eurovision Office, Mrs. Laura Maggiore, Tel. +39 06 3317 0053/2814 Fax +39 06 3317 1151; e-mail eurovision@rai.it

--in the world, Telespazio, Mr. Sergio Bernardi, Tel. 39 06 4079 3487; Fax +39 06 407 1790; e-mail customer _ support@telespazio.it

--in Latin America, OTI (Organización de la Televisión Iberoamericana), Mr. Darío De la Peña, Fax +52 55 5281 1564/280 7847; e-mail otiprogramas@hotmail.com, or-as noted-Telespazio, if necessary.

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications will make available, for those who request it, commentary for the celebrations in any one of the following languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Ukrainian; RAI will make available commentary in Italian. In addition to the television images, the INTELSAT and PANAMSAT satellites will carry international sound and commentary in these languages.

Television networks and stations which, for technical reasons, cannot make use of satellite audio signals can contact, for telephone circuits with the Vatican, Telecom Italia, Mr. Joseph Soureal, Tel. +39 06 3689 4067/4657. Fax +39 06 3689 4506/4413.

For fully equipped positions for television commentators in the Braccio di Carlo Magno, next to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, interested networks and stations are asked to contact Mrs. Laura Maggiore at RAI (see above).

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications will cover the technical expenses for satellite uplink; for developing countries which find themselves in particular difficulty, on recommendation of the respective Papal Representative, the Council will cover downlink expenses, but not the expenses for local/national transmission of the programs.

Archbishop John P. Foley is President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

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