Pope congratulates Osservatore Romano for 160th anniversary

By Devin Watkins

“I read it every day and when it doesn't come out on Sundays, I feel I am missing something.”

With these encouraging words, Pope Francis began his message to the L'Osservatore Romano newspaper on Wednesday.

As the Vatican’s newspaper marks its 160th anniversary, the Pope recounted his long-standing readership of the paper.

He said that he would faithfully read the weekly Spanish-language edition even when he was in Argentina.

Front page on 2-3 May 1955

“I read it all,” said the Pope, “because I know that it is a link with the Holy See, with the Magisterium of the Church, with the life of the Church, and with the history of the Church.”

In-depth reading

Pope Francis also described how he reads the L'Osservatore Romano from front-to-back unless there is a particular story that he is interested in.

“And when I come to the end, I say ‘too bad, it’s finished’.”

The clip of the Pope’s video message is taken from an interview with Francesco Zippel, who is preparing a documentary on the history of L’Osservatore Romano.

Fidelity and creativity

Already on Tuesday, speaking at the Angelus on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope congratulated the Vatican newspaper for the anniversary, which falls on Thursday, 1 July.

He said he likes to call it the “party newspaper”, and sent his best-wishes and gratitude to the staff of the L'Osservatore Romano.

“Continue your work with fidelity and creativity,” he said.