Translations of a couple of articles from the Italian press:

More than an expression of any partiular policy line, Pope Benedict’s choices appear to have one thing in common: they have been dictated by the Pope’s personal confidence in individuals, coopting persons whom he respects and who also know each other quite well, whom he has singled out for being persons sensitive to his own thinking.

In other words, the Pope chooses to rely on persons whom he believes to be capable of interpreting his vision of the relations between the Church and the world.

Still, the choice of Fr.Lombardi has singular characteristics which cannot be unremarked.

Above all, he is a Jesuit. In the past several decades, the order has not seemed to enjoy particular status within the Church, whether because the Church has lately given more importance to lay movements then to religious orders, or because the Jesuits in general have been outpoken about their concept of Church-world relations which is not always shared, to say the least, in Vatican circles.

Moreover, Fr. Lombardi now has three positions, which may indicate that the Vatican is moving towards a rationalization and consolidation of its information services.

This has been a constant theme over the past few years – the need to do just that with the Vatican press outreaches, from the newspapers to the electronic media.

By the way, just a little primer on how to get yer Vatican news fast, so you don’t have to depend on the blogs.

Around 6:30 am Eastern, I believe, the Vatican posts the daily "Bulletin." It’s sometimes added to after the initial posting (as was the case today). It’s found here. It’s in Italian, and there is no version in any other language, but most of us can hash our way through most of what’s there and get the general sense of it.

Various appointments are listed under "Rinunce e Nomine" – and it’s there you would find news of a bishop resigning or being appointed. The general "tradition" has been for U.S. appointments to be announced on Tuesdays, but that’s been bypassed ocassionally.  But we Catholic politics nerds still open up that link on Tuesday mornings with a little more frisson of interest than we do on other days.

The other major online Vatican news wire is the Vatican Information Service, which is available in four languages, including English. It usually shows up on the website mid-morning, US time, and you can get it delivered to your inbox, as well. Anyone can – not just journalists.

So that’s it. There’s no great mystery. There are rumors, to be sure, sometimes proven to be accurate, sometimes not. But in terms of announcements,etc., coming from the Vatican, anyone out there who’s willing to slosh through a little Italian has as much access as most journalists, if you’re willing to get up early in the morning!

And, I have to add, if you’re not tired of it yet, that the Papa Ratzinger Forum posts a lot of European articles on the papacy and the Church that don’t show up in Google News. Some are translated and posted into the English section, but there are also sections in other languages that see a lot of interesting information and activity.

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