Catholic World News News Feature

New editor takes over L'Osservatore Romano October 29, 2007

The new editor of the Vatican's official newspaper hopes to provide "space for the meeting of ideas."

In his first editorial after taking over the editorial command of L'Osservatore Romano, Mario Vian wrote that the paper will continue to carry news of the Catholic world, of other Christian groups, and of different religious traditions. In particular, he said, he hoped to make the Vatican newspaper a voice in the debate about the future of our culture.

In a message welcoming the new editor, Pope Benedict XVI observed that Vian is well prepared for that challenge because of his "profound cultural formation as a historian of Christianity" as well as his student of the modern papacy.

L'Osservatore Romano has commanded attention throughout the world because the paper has not been caught up in partisan political battles but has maintained its independence as an organ of the Holy See, the Pope said in his message to Vian. Pope Benedict said that he hoped the paper would continue to show "the fecundity of the meeting between faith and reason."

Mario Vian took over as editor of L'Osservatore Romano after Mario Agnes stepped down on October 27, ending a 23-year term as editor. Earlier this month the Holy Father had thanked the outgoing editor for his "coherent Christian commitment, love for the Church, and exemplary faithfulness to the magisterium."