Final Report

Final Report

12th Synod of Bishops

FINAL REPORT

This is the last number of the Bulletin of the Synodus Episcoporum, published by the Holy See Press Office with information on the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which took place from October 5 to 26 2008 in the Synod Hall in Vatican City, on the theme The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church.

Below is the Final Report concerning the work for the information service for the Synod Assembly.

- COMMISSION FOR INFORMATION

- PERSONS IN CHARGE OF INFORMATION

- HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE SERVICES

- PUBLICATION AND TRANSLATION OF INFORMATION

- BRIEFING AND PRESS CONFERENCES

- PUBLICATIONS

- ACCREDITATION

- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COMMISSION FOR INFORMATION

The Commission for Information for the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was made up of the following persons:

President
- H. Em. Card. Peter Kodwo Appiah TURKSON, Archbishop of Cape Coast, President of the Association to the Episcopal Conference of West Africa" (A.C.E.A.O.) (GHANA)

Vice President
- H.E. Most. Rev. Claudio Maria CELLI, Titular Archbishop of Civitanova, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (VATICAN CITY) Members ex officio

- H.E. Most. Rev. Nikola ETEROVIĆ, Titular Archbishop of Sisak, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops (VATICAN CITY)

- H.E. Most. Rev. Laurent MONSENGWO PASINYA, Archbishop of Kinshasa, President of the Episcopal Conference (CONGO R.)

Members

- H.E. Most. Rev. Terrence Thomas PRENDERGAST, S.I., Archbishop of Ottawa (CANADA)

- H.E. Most. Rev. Diarmuid MARTIN, Archbishop of Dublin (IRELAND)

- H.E. Most. Rev. Filippo SANTORO, Bishop of Petrópolis (BRAZIL)

- H.E. Most. Rev. Joseph AKÉ, Bishop of Yamoussoukro (IVORY COAST)

- H.E. Most. Rev. Luis Antonio G. TAGLE, Bishop of Imus (PHILIPPINES)

Secretary ex officio

- Rev. Federico LOMBARDI, S.I., Director of the Holy See Press Office (VATICAN CITY)

PERSONS IN CHARGE OF INFORMATION

The persons in charge of information were:

Director of the Holy See Press Office
Rev. Federico LOMBARDI, S.I.

Assistant Director of the Holy See Press Office
Rev. Fr. Ciro BENEDETTINI, C.P.

Press Attaché for the Italian Language Group
Rev. Msgr Giorgio COSTANTINO

Press Attaché for the English Language Group
Rev. Fr. Thomas ROSICA, L.C.

Press Attaché for the French Language Group
Rev. Msgr Mons. Joseph Bato’ora BALLONG WEN MEWUDA

Press Attaché for the Spanish Language Group
Mr. Jésus COLINA

Press Attaché for the German Language Group
Rev. Markus GRAULICH, S.D.B.

HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE SERVICES

In order to ensure the correct functioning of the Commission for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Holy See Press Office, under the guidance of the Assistant Director Rev Fr, Ciro BENEDETTINI, C.P. made its staff and equipment available to the Synod Assembly, organizing 5 language groups (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German) for accredited journalists.

INFORMATION AND ACCREDITATION
DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS - TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INFORMATION POOLS - BRIEFINGS - PRESS CONFERENCES

Coordinator:
Sr. Giovanna GENTILI, F.S.P.

Information and Accreditation Secretary:
Tiziano BASSO
Dott.ssa Claudia MELONI

Telecommunications Secretary:
Dott.ssa Marina BRETSCHNEIDER

Press Office Secretariate:
Dott.ssa Cristina RAVENDA
Dott.ssa Lina PETRI TORMENTA
Dott.ssa Joy STELLATO GABRIELLI

Press Office Bulletin:
Dott.ssa Giuseppina TRAINI
Dott.ssa Cristina ALBINI BERGHELLA

Press Review:
Dott. Stefano ARGENTINO STORINO

Ushers and Photocopiers:
Francesco ANTINORI
Andrea Biondi
Enrico SPIGONE
Gianluca BELEGGIA

AUDIO-VISUAL SERVICES

Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Vice Secretary:
Dott. Angelo SCELZO

PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES

L’Osservatore Romano
Photographers:
Francesco SFORZA
Simone RISOLUTI

VIDEO SERVICES

Vatican Television Service
Technical Services:
Stefano D’AGOSTINO
Administrative Secretary:
Dott. Roberto ROMOLO

SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION FOR PRESS CONFERENCES

Datason
Head Coordinator:
Vittorio ZUKAR

SECURITY

Gendarmerie of the Vatican City State
Pontifical Swiss Guards
General Inspectorate for Public Security at the Vatican

PUBLICATION AND TRANSLATION OF INFORMATION

The Holy See Press Office also organized a Temporary Office for the publication and translation of information, coordinated by the Holy See Press Office, Mr. Vik VAN BRANTEGEM, delegated by the Director of the Holy See Press Office.

This Temporary Office was also in charge of publishing the information released on the Holy See’s website.

The following persons were part of the staff:

COORDINATION OFFICE

Head Coordinator:
Vik VAN BRANTEGEM

Coordinator:
Luca VAN BRANTEGEM

Supervisor of Translations:
Dott. Martin NKAFU NKEMNKIA

Chief Editor:
Marco VAN BRANTEGEM

Editors:
Rosaria DI PRATA
Dott.ssa Roberta LEONE
Giulia HALABI
Maria LOMBARDI
Tullia ISERNIA

Assistants:
Dott.ssa Marzia PELLEGRINO
Francesco DI MARCO

ITALIAN LANGUAGE GROUP

Translators-Revisers:
Dott.ssa Roberta CARTA DI MEO
Dott.ssa Giannina DI PAOLO

Translators:
Dott.ssa Elisa OTTANELLI
Dott.ssa Francesca SALTARELLI
Simona STORIONI
Dott.ssa Raffaela PAOLESSI

ENGLISH LANGUAGE GROUP

Translator-Reviser:
Dott.ssa Caterina GAETANI

Translators:
Dott. Nicolas STARK
Dott.ssa Amal HAZEEN DAOU
Dott.ssa Michelle FALCINELLI
Dott. Martin MAGUIRE
Paola MONTEVERDE

FRENCH LANGUAGE GROUP

Translators-Revisers:
Dott.ssa Barbara DE LUZENBERGER
Dott.ssa Solen DE LUCA

Translators:
Dott.ssa Marielle GUILLIER
Dott. Philippe-François DURBACH
Dott. François DUFAY

SPANISH LANGUAGE GROUP

Translators-Revisers:
Dott.ssa Maria Teresa CHAVEZ MONTOYA
Dott.ssa Blanca Maria LENZI

Translators:
Dott.ssa Marta GRAUPERA I CANAL
Liliana VALLINA
Dott. Carlos Miguel SALAZAR ZAGAZETA

GERMAN LANGUAGE GROUP

Translators-Revisers:
Annemarie STEINIGER
Dott.ssa Johanna WEIßENBERGER

Translators:
Claudia MOLL BUSCHMANN
Dott. Reinhold STACHURSKY
Cornelia WEHMER
Dott. Matthias HOCH
Dott.ssa Dagmar Anke MIESEL

AUDIO AND VIDEO LINKS WITH THE SYNOD HALL

Vatican Radio
Ceremonial Section:
Roberto CALVIGIONI

DATA PROCESSING NETWORK

The Data Processing Center of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
Data Processing Supervisors:
Vincenzo LIBERATI
Diego CELOTTO
Giovambattista SILA

OTHER HOLY SEE INFORMATION AGENCIES

L’Osservatore Romano
Editor in Chief:
Dott. Antonio CHILÀ
Editing Secretary:
Dott. Gaetano VALLINI

Vatican Radio
SEDOC:
Dott. Pietro COCCO

Vatican Information Service
Editing:
Dott. Alfonso BAILLY-BAILLIÈRE TORRES-PARDO

INTERNET CONNECTION

Holy See Internet Office
Technicians:
Luigi SALIMBENI
Lorenzo CAIROLA
Marco DABALÀ

DATABASE ADMINISTRATION

Unilab Consulting
Anna Maria FILICE

TECHNICAL SERVICES

Bursar’s Office and Technical Office of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
Technical Services of the Governorate of the Vatican City
Phone Services
Car Park Services
Paul VI Hall Maintenance

BRIEFING AND PRESS CONFERENCES

10 briefings were held by the 5 Press Attachés for Italian, English, French, Spanish and German speaking journalists:

- Tuesday 7 October 2008 (for the II and III General Congregation);

- Wednesday 8 October 2008 (at 2 pm, for the IV General Congregation and for Session I of the Small Groups; at the conclusion of the Press Conference for the Presentation of the Message for the 95th World Day of Migrants and Refugees at 12.30 pm and the Briefing of the Bible Society at 1.30 pm, in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office);

- Thursday 9 October 2008 (for the V and VI General Congregation);

- Friday 10 October 2008 (for the VII and VIII General Congregation);

- Saturday 11 October 2008 (for the IX and X General Congregation);

- Monday 13 October 2008 (for the XI and XII General Congregation);

- Tuesday 14 October 2008 (for the XIII and XIV General Congregation);

- Wednesday 15 October 2008 (at approximately 1.30 pm, for the XV and XVI General Congregation; at the conclusion of the Press Conference for the Presentation of the film “Testimony” from the book “A Life with Karol” by Card. Stanislaw Dziwisz and Gianfranco Svidercoschi, at 12.30 pm, in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office);

- Friday 17 October 2008 (for the XVII and XVIII General Congregation and for Session II and III of the Small Groups);

- Saturday 18 October 2008 (for Session IV of the Small Groups and for the XIX General Congregation);

A briefing was also held with the participation of Synodal Fathers, to provide information on the Synod of Bishops and on the Synodal Works in general:

Tuesday 21 October 2008, 1:10 p.m.

The following Synodal Fathers accompanied the Press Attachés:

For the Italian language group:

- H.E. Most. Rev. Gianfranco RAVASI, Titular Archbishop of Villamagna di Proconsolare, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (VATICAN CITY) President of the Commission for the Message by the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

For the English language group:

- H.E. Most. Rev. Terrence Thomas PRENDERGAST, S.I., Archbishop of Ottawa (CANADA), Member of the Commission for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

For the French language group:

- H.E. Most. Rev. Joseph AKÉ, Bishop of Yamoussoukro (IVORY COAST), Member of the Commission for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

For the Spanish language group

- H. Em. Card. Oscar Andrés RODRÍGUEZ MARADIAGA, S.D.B., Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, President of the Episcopal Conference (HONDURAS)

For the German language group:

- H.E. Most. Rev. Kurt KOCH, Bishop of Basel, (SWITZERLAND)

The location of the briefings and the name of the Press Attaché for each of the language groups are as follows:

Italian language group
Press Attaché: Rev. Mons. Giorgio COSTANTINO
Location: Journalists’ Room, Holy See Press Office

English language group
Press Attaché: Rev. Fr. Thomas ROSICA, C.S.B.
Location: John Paul II Conference Hall, Holy See Press Office

French language group
Press Attaché: Rev. Mons. Joseph Bato’ora BALLONG WEN MEWUDA.
Location: Holy See Press Office

Spanish language group
Press Attaché: Mr. Jésus COLINA
Location: Telecommunications Room, Holy See Press Office

German language group
Press Attaché: Rev. Marcus GRAULICH, S.D.B.
Location: Pastoral Centre for German Pilgrims, 51 Via della Conciliazione

Also, 4 Press Conferences were held in the John Paul II Hall of the Holy See Press Office, where the following Synodal Fathers intervened:

1. Monday 6 October 2008, at 12:45

- H.Em. Card. Marc OUELLET, Archbishop of Québec (Canada), General Reporter

- H.E. Most. Rev. Claudio Maria CELLI, Titular Archbishop of Civitanova, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

2. Thursday 16 October 2008, at 12.45

- H. Em. Card. William Joseph LEVADA, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (VATICAN CITY)President Delegate of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H. Em. Card. George PELL, Archbishop of Sydney (AUSTRALIA)President Delegate of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H. Em. Card. Odilo Pedro SCHERER, Archbishop of São Paulo (BRAZIL)President Delegate of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H. Em. Card. Peter Kodwo Appiah TURKSON, Archbishop of Cape Coast, President of the Association of the Episcopal Conference of West Africa (A.C.E.A.O.) (GHANA), President of the Commission for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H.E. Most. Rev. Diarmuid MARTIN, Archbishop of Dublin (IRELAND) Member of the Commision for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H.E. Most. Rev. Luis Antonio G. TAGLE, Bishop of Imus (PHILIPPINES) Member of the Commision for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

3. Friday 24 October 2008, at 12.45

- H.E. Most. Rev. Gianfranco RAVASI, Titular Archbishop of Villamagna di Proconsolare, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (VATICAN CITY) President of the Commission for the Message by the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H.E. Most. Rev. Santiago Jaime SILVA RETAMALES, Titular Bishop of Bela, Auxiliary Bishop of Valparaíso (CHILE)Vice President of the Commission for the Message by the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

4. Saturday 25 October 2008, at 12.45

- H. Em. Card. Marc OUELLET, P.S.S., Archbishop of Québec (CANADA), Relator General of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H.E. Most. Rev. Laurent MONSENGWO PASINYA, Archbishop of Kinshasa, President of the Episcopal Conference (CONGO R.) Special Secretary of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

- H.E. Most. Rev. Filippo SANTORO, Bishop of Petrópolis (BRAZIL), Member of the Commission for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

The press conferences are presided over by Rev. Father Federico LOMBARDI, S.I.; Director of the Holy See Press Office, Secretary ex-ufficio of the Commission for Information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

PUBLICATIONS

“SYNODUS EPISCOPORUM” BULLETIN

During the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Synodus Episcoporum Bulletin, published in the plurilingual, Italian, English, French, Spanish and German versions, gave accredited journalists the chance to follow the work of the Synod on a day to day basis. It also allowed the Synodal Fathers to have an immediate summary of the work that took place. Finally, through the Internet, it reached the media operators and non-journalistic organizations throughout the world.

From October 3 to 27 2008, 39 editions of the Synodus Episcoporum Bulletin with an overall circulation of about 1.300 copies (300 plurilingual, 260 Italian, 260 English, 175 French, 175 Spanish, and 130 German) totaling 16.600 copies in the 6 language editions. Also, further editions were published for various numbers and in the different languages.

ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SERVICE

The Temporary Office of the Holy See Press Office, in charge of publication and translation of information on the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, made available in electronic form all the information released, with a total of 1.600 files for 320 texts in 5 language versions (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German) and of 195 files for the 39 numbers of the Bulletin Synodus Episcoporum in 6 language versions (plurilingual, Italian, English, French, Spanish and German), to the Graphics Office of L’Osservatore Romano, to SEDOC (Central Documentation Service) of the Vatican Radio, to the Editorial Office of the Vatican Information Service.

In addition, this office provided the Bulletin Section of the Holy See Press Office with the plurilingual edition of the Bulletin Synodus Episcoporum in electronic form.

It was also in charge, for the sixth time, of the publication of the HTML and the publication on the Internet of the Bulletin Synodus Episcoporum, in the 6 language versions (plurilingual, Italian, English, French, Spanish and German), available on the Holy See website (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/index_en.htm). From October 3 to the 23 2008, the section dedicated to the Synod of Bishops on the site www.vatican.va was accessed approximately 240.253 times. The Bulletin was consulted about 28.397 times, on a daily average of about 1.058 times (plurilingual edition 3.803, Italian 5.630, English 7.499, French 4.081, Spanish 5.827, German 1.905).

ACCREDITATION

For this XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, in addition to the permanently accredited journalists, another 106 correspondents were accredited, who came specially to Rome from 21 countries, representing 72 newspapers and broadcast organisations to cover this event.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Holy See Press Office wishes to express its wholehearted gratitude to those who have so efficiently cooperated, at every level, with their generosity and constant willingness, for the success of all services directly and indirectly connected to providing information on the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Finally, we would also like to thank the accredited journalists for their assiduous participation, especially those correspondents who came to Rome for the express purpose of covering the proceedings and the outcome of the work of the Synod.