Summary
On February 12, 1931, Vatican Radio was officially launched under the guidance of Pope Pius XI and the Jesuits. The first broadcast featured Guglielmo Marconi announcing that the Pope’s voice could be heard simultaneously across the globe through radio technology. This historic message addressed all peoples with a Beethoven symphony playing in the background. Since then, Vatican Radio has served nine Popes, including John XXIII and Francis, reaching listeners around the world via 34 language editorial offices and multimedia channels. During World War II, it helped reunite thousands of missing persons and provided aid during other conflicts such as those in Ukraine, Syria, and Yemen. Today, with Pope Francis’ support for a more unified communication system, Vatican Radio continues to serve global Catholic communities through various media outlets while embracing multiculturalism as a key aspect of its programming.
Key Topics
Vatican Radio, Marconi, Catholic social teaching
