USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Information for Satellite Transmissions of the Holy Father's Funeral Mass Issued by Council for Social Communications

Information for Satellite Transmissions of the Holy Father's Funeral Mass Issued by Council for Social Communications

WASHINGTON (April 5, 2005)—The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Social Communications has released information for broadcasters on the satellite transmissions of the Holy Father's funeral Mass, in English and Spanish.

The funeral Mass for John Paul II will be held Friday, April 8, 07.45-11.00 (UTC/GMT) in St. Peter's Square.

Television coverage of these ceremonies-for worldwide distribution-will be provided by Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), in cooperation with the Vatican Television Center (CTV), and will be 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, through PanAmSat and INTELSAT.

Television networks and stations which want to take part in these worldwide TV 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

Elsewhere: Telespazio, Sergio Bernardi, Tel. +39 06 4079 3487; Fax +39 06 407 1790; E-mail: customer_support@telespazio.it

In Latin America, OTI (Organizacion de la Television Iberoamericana); Mr. Dario de la Pena, Fax +52 55 5281 1564/280 7847; e-mail otiprogramas@oti.tv or, if necessary, Telespazio, as noted.

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications will make available, for those who request it, commentary for the celebrations in any 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 the languages noted above. For telecasters doing their own commentaries in their home countries, upon request the Pontifical Council for Social Communications can assist by e-mailing information on the celebrations. To request this assistance, please contact: Mr.Thaddeus Jones, telecast@pccs.va.

Television networks and stations which, for technical reasons, cannot make use of satellite audio signals can use telephone circuits with the Vatican by contacting: Telecom Italica, 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.

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 Foley is President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.