VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis named a new
Vatican spokesman Thursday, tapping Matteo Bruni, the British-born official who
has handled media logistics for papal trips, in the latest shakeup of the
Vatican’s communications operations.
Bruni takes over from
Alessandro Gisotti, who became interim spokesman following the December 31
sudden departure of Greg Burke.
Gisotti had always said his term would be temporary given the
demanding nature of the job and his obligations to his young family. The
Vatican said Thursday he will now join the communications ministry as a deputy
editorial director.
Bruni’s appointment marks the latest change in the Holy See’s communications
operations under Francis. Previous reforms have included the creation of an
overall ministry with institutional editorial oversight, the slimming down of
the Vatican Radio operation, and new leadership of the spokesman’s office, the
Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, and its women’s magazine.
Bruni, 42, joined the Vatican press office in 2009, coordinating
accreditations. In 2013 he took over organizing the logistics for media during
papal trips, negotiating access with host countries ahead of time and
shepherding journalists from venue to venue during the trips themselves. Born
in Winchester, England, he was educated in Italy and speaks English and Italian
fluently, as well as Spanish and French.
In a statement announcing the new changes, the Vatican’s
communications director, Paolo Ruffini, said Bruni would be joined by a deputy
director of the press office, who hasn’t been named.
Bruni, who has not previously worked as a journalist, told the Vatican’s
in-house media operation, Vatican News, that the world needs communications
that are “official, clear, transparent about events and contribute to
understanding the complexity of the world in which we live.”
Source:Inquirer
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