How to Cover the Catholic Church

Covering the Vatican

thing’s missing. Do not be surprised or alarmed if your pass isn’t ready on your

first trip to the press office. Patience will be rewarded.

TV crews and still photographers

go through a similar process via

the Pontifical Council for Social Communications rather than the Vatican

press office.

In the press accreditation section of the Vatican’s Web site

ick on Audiovisual Permits

and fill out the online form. Note that each person requesting accreditation

must complete the form.

Then fax (39-06-6988-5373) or e-mail a formal written request from the

TV organization or photo agency along with the name(s) and title(s) of the

people requiring accreditation, and a photocopy of each person’s passport.

Once in Rome, go to the main office of the council at Via della Conciliazione

n. 5, a few blocks down fromSt. Peter’s Square. Bring photocopies of all the docu-

ments requested, and be sure to have your passport on hand for identification.

The council’s office publishes regulations for audiovisual coverage at the

Vatican and rules of conduct at papal ceremonies. Links can be found at

ad these before applying for accreditation to make sure you can

comply, and take them with you as a reference.

Keep your press pass visible at all times when covering events. The press

office will provide a clear plastic sleeve to wear on a lanyard around your

neck. Note that the pass will get you into events, but it won’t get you past the

gates behind St. Peter’s unless you have an appointment.

The Press Office (

Sala Stampa

)

Conveniently located on Via della Conciliazione, the street leading to St.

Peter’s, and just outside the square itself, the office provides wi-fi, electrical

outlets, phones, copies of daily press releases and other documents, and a (not

always very quiet) place to work. If your laptop somehow didn’t survive the

trip, there are five first-come, first-served computers, all with Internet access

and connection to a printer. The press office is also where most of the major

press conferences are held. TV crews and still photographers should check

in with the Pontifical Council for Social Communications ahead of any press

conference to determine who gets a spot, since audiovisual hookups are at a

premium. Official Vatican photos and television footage will be made available

in any event. For those filing radio reports, the press office has fairly sound-

proof phone booths.