As announced December 31, 2019, the Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, the day of the announcement of the resignation of Holy See Press Office Director and Vice-Director, Greg Burke and Paloma Garcia Ovejero, initiated a process to form a new organizational structure of the Holy See Press Office. He expressed his gratitude to Burke and Ovejero, expressing his respect for their ‘free’ and ‘autonomous’ decision, and in appointing Alessandro Gisotti as Director of the Press Office ad interim, expressed his full trust and confidence in Gisotti.
Today, in a statement to journalists accredited to the Holy See, the new organizational structure of the Press Office was explained to journalists. Vatican Press Office Director Gisotti also spoke to journalists present in the Press Office, including Zenit, to give more background on today’s news.
Director Gisotti acknowledged that journalists may have observed there is not an appointment of a ‘Vice-Director.’ He underscored that the idea instead of this structure has been that the various appointments represent ‘an international team,’ not only offering expertise in various languages, being mother-tongue, but also understanding cultural context and sensibilities. He also explained that their experience as journalists is an asset, as they understand what press require and have the necessary skill sets for these roles.
Among the nominees, are three Americans, including a religious sister.
Turning to the appointments announced today, Romilda Ferrauto, from France, has been appointed by the prefect as Senior Advisor to the Director. She is the retired leader of Vatican Radio’s French section and has, for the last five General Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops, served as assistant to the Press Office.
Another woman, American Sister Bernadette M. Reis, FSP, has been entrusted by the Prefect as Assistant to the Director. From the United States, she has served as journalist for Vatican News and consultant for the Communication Commission of UISG.
Raul Cabrera Perez, from Peru, a long-time Vatican Radio journalist and collaborator on the Information Commission for the Synod of Bishops on Young People, will also be an Assistant to the Director.
Moreover, Thaddeus M. Jones, from the United States, who had worked at Vatican Radio, but had since held an important role in the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications and later Dicastery for Communication, especially with the Pope’s Twitter account, @Pontifex, will serve as Office Manager of the Holy See Press Office.
