Joaquin Novarro Valls has resigned/retired (as expected) and has been replaced with A JESUIT! From Opus Dei to a Jesuit – it’s back to the old days of long-tentacled power players!

Kidding. Kidding.

Is he waiting for the 40 Express?

(There’s a big bus stop right in front of the Vatican Radio offices)

The new Press Secretary is Fr. Frederico Lombardi, S.J., who is the director of Vatican Radio and Vatican Television. Ordained in 1972, Lombardi’s Vatican career:

1973 – 1977: Membro del Collegio degli Scrittori della "Civiltà Cattolica". Redattore della rivista.
1977: Vice-Direttore della "Civiltà Cattolica".
1984 – 1990: Provinciale della Provincia d’Italia della Compagnia di Gesù.
1991 – 2005: Direttore dei Programmi della Radio Vaticana.
2001 – ….: Direttore Generale del Centro Televisivo Vaticano.
2005 – ….: Direttore Generale della Radio Vaticana.

More here, in Italian. No English news bulletins yet.

From Fr. Lombardi’s letter to journalists:

As I prepare to assume this new responsibility at the Holy See Press Office I am, naturally, grateful to the Holy Father and to the Superiors for the trust they place in me; but my thoughts also go out especially – and with affection – to you and to all our colleagues in the media whom I am called to serve.

"Like you, I have been working for some time to ensure that the activity of the Holy Father and the reality of the Church are known and understood objectively and adequately.

snip

"I also ask for your benevolence, so that this shared portion of our journey may be more fruitful.

"I entrust these sentiments to the Lord on the feast day of St. Benedict upon which, perhaps not by chance, I receive my appointment to this new service."