Radio Vatican: Unpredictable Pope Challenges Journalists

Spiegel.de ^ | December 11, 2013 – 05:06 PM | By Fiona Ehlers in Rome

[DeaconBenjamin]

Much has changed since Pope Francis came into office. Wednesday, the day of the pope's weekly general audience, is a case in point. Both the pope and the pilgrims enjoy the unofficial portion of the audience the most.

A carabiniere blows Francis a kiss. Three schoolchildren grab his white cap and try it on. The pope accepts Argentine football jerseys, kisses 14 children and approaches a man who has no nose. He places his forehead against the man's forehead and says: "Pray for me."

Less than 500 meters away, Anne Preckel of Radio Vatican watches the live broadcast. The 34-year-old native of Germany's Westphalia region is responsible for the daily broadcast.

Francis talks about the importance of confession. He says that he too goes to confession, and that he too is a sinner. This is familiar territory for Preckel. Francis says these things often, and there is no cause for alarm -- yet.

Then he looks up into the crowd, and his voice becomes deeper and stronger. He asks questions and improvises dialogs to engage his audience. For Preckel, these are the dangerous parts, because this pope is very fond of free, spontaneous speech. Every word matters at this point.

Preckel is one of 400 employees from 60 countries working at Radio Vatican. They translate the pope's words into 44 languages and broadcast them around the globe on 39 different radio programs.

Francis says: "Don't be ashamed to confess your sins. It's better to blush once than to turn yellow a thousand times." Preckel smiles.

"He makes us work harder than his predecessor did, but he's also funnier," says Preckel. The employees at Radio Vatican don't simply translate the pope's words. They also have to select, categorize and interpret, more so with Francis than with Benedict.

[Salvation]

**Francis says: “Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins. It’s better to blush once than to turn yellow a thousand times.”**

BTTT!

[Alex Murphy]

"He makes us work harder than his predecessor did, but he's also funnier," says Preckel. The employees at Radio Vatican don't simply translate the pope's words. They also have to select, categorize and interpret, more so with Francis than with Benedict.

IMO I don't find him that unpredictable.

[RitaOK]

Accuracy and even clarity are becoming a lost art in this increasingly extemporaneous and shoot from the lip era, full of technology that allows for mostly bullet styled communication. Then, bring in a variety of “interpreters”, agenda driven in some cases, and you’ve got trouble.

[Alex Murphy]

Accuracy and even clarity are becoming a lost art in this increasingly extemporaneous and shoot from the lip era, full of technology that allows for mostly bullet styled communication. Then, bring in a variety of “interpreters”, agenda driven in some cases, and you’ve got trouble.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
-- Proverbs 10:19