On the 43rd anniversary of his priestly ordination, Pope Leo XIV visited the Vatican Radio shortwave transmission center in Santa Maria di Galeria, just outside Rome, to express gratitude for the vital communication ministry carried out at the site on June 19.
The visit, which took place on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, was marked by a warm reception with staff and a tour of the facility, including the historic transmitter hall designed by architect Pier Luigi Nervi.
The transmission center, operated by the Dicastery for Communication, serves as a hub for Vatican Radio broadcasts, reaching even the most remote parts of the world.
This marks the first papal visit to the Santa Maria di Galeria center since Pope St. John Paul II’s visit in 1991. The facility was originally inaugurated by Pope Pius XII in 1957.
During his visit, Pope Leo XIV engaged with staff, asked about the operations of the antennas and digital systems and shared personal reflections on the missionary importance of Vatican Radio.
He recalled how, during his pastoral work in Latin America and Africa, shortwave broadcasts from Vatican Radio were often the only reliable connection to the universal Church.
The Pope thanked the staff for their “fidelity and continuity, even on a feast day like today,” and imparted his Apostolic Blessing on all those present.
The Holy Father also took time to examine the extraterritorial zone governed under the Lateran Treaties.
He was briefed on a proposed agrivoltaic project based on the motu proprio Fratello Sole, aimed at providing clean energy to the transmission center and achieving energy self-sufficiency for Vatican City State.
The visit underscored the enduring missionary value of Catholic media and Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to strengthening the Church’s voice in the digital and global age.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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