One of the Vatican Radio studios (photo courtesy of Vatican Radio)

VATICAN RADIO ANNIVERSARY AND SCHEDULES

Between 2012 and 2017, Vatican Radio was reporting that it would close all its shortwave services. To its eternal credit, the service still operates today in various languages for listeners in Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

VR is still using the Santa Maria di Galeria site. But it has also harnessed relay stations at Greenville NC, Tinang (Philippines), Talata-Volonondry (Madagascar), and Tinian (Nth Mariana Islands). I suspect the good Fathers at VR may have realised that many listeners in Africa, Asia, and parts of South America were not quite ready for Internet listening just yet.

You can find the VR transmission schedule for both Santa Maria de Galeria and the global relay stations at https://www.vaticannews.va/en/short-waves.html. The downloadable frequency chart isn't easy to read, but the online schedules (same page - keep scrolling) are much better laid out, although the information on relay station usage is pretty sketchy!

73 and have a great weekend!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

The following article is published here by courtesy of the Vatican Radio website. The article was first published HERE.

The birth of Vatican Radio, the ‘Pope’s radio,’ on February 12, 1931, and World Radio Day, celebrated on February 13, are an opportunity to revisit two significant chapters in the life of a medium marked by tremendous technological evolution, and which, from its origins, has always retained the same mission, that of reaching the corners and peoples of the earth.

By Amedeo Lomonaco

Two days in the 20th century, both in the month of February but in different years, intertwine with the history of the most widespread means of communication in the world: on February 12, 1931, Pope Pius XI inaugurated Vatican Radio. “Hear, O islands, and listen, O distant peoples,” declared the Pope in the radio message “Qui arcano Dei.”

Vatican Radio, the Pope’s Radio

It was Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the radio, who announced the historic event: “For about twenty centuries, the Roman Pontiff has made the word of his divine teaching heard in the world, but this is the first time that his living voice can be perceived simultaneously over the entire surface of the Earth.”

The establishment of Vatican Radio has undoubtedly represented a significant moment in the history of media, having been founded in 1931. Its impact has been reflected not only in the dissemination of the Pope’s voice and the Catholic Church but also in the broader context of global communication.

The establishment of World Radio Day by UNESCO, with its date coinciding with the anniversary of Vatican Radio, underscores the importance and impact of this medium of communication globally.

From waves to the web

Radio has gone through various evolutionary stages, transitioning from traditional radio waves to the digital era and the internet, where it has transformed into web radios and podcasts.

In particular, the democratic aspect of radio has been emphasized as one of its fundamental values. It provides a space for all voices in society, including those often overlooked or ignored by mainstream media.

Furthermore, radio continues to play a crucial role as a public safety net during emergency situations, providing vital information and support to the community.

In summary, the history of Vatican Radio and the celebration of World Radio Day serve as a testament to the power and relevance of this medium in shaping society and facilitating global communication.