So what's the status of L'Osservatore Romano?

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I see the paper appears on the Vatican website. It seems the columnists often present their own opinions. I say that because the secular media has a terrible time distinguishing between what an author says via L’Osservatore Romano and the Pope.

So does anyone live in Italy who knows, or anyone familiar with the newspaper’s relationship to the Magisterium can explain?
 
My understanding is that L’Osservatore Romano is the Holy See’s equivalent of the London Gazette (the official journal of the British Crown): it is the official papal journal of record in which all papal engagements, audiences, appointments, honours, and events are recorded.

Additionally, however, it features actual journalism, with stories written by reporters. I don’t believe that anything at odds with the Vatican would be allowed in any given issue of L’Osservatore Romano, although some recent articles about the Beatles and the Simpsons, for example, have raised a few eyebrows.

In neither case, was there anything truly concerning, although the Western media do like to have fun with such entries: “Vatican Claims Simpsons are Catholic”. How can a fictional cartoon character be Catholic or non-Catholic, of course? Just hype. A bit of fun.
 
Pregustator said:
My understanding is that L’Osservatore Romano is the Holy See’s equivalent of the London Gazette (the official journal of the British Crown): it is the official papal journal of record in which all papal engagements, audiences, appointments, honours, and events are recorded.

Additionally, however, it features actual journalism, with stories written by reporters. I don’t believe that anything at odds with the Vatican would be allowed in any given issue of L’Osservatore Romano, although some recent articles about the Beatles and the Simpsons, for example, have raised a few eyebrows.

In neither case, was there anything truly concerning, although the Western media do like to have fun with such entries: “Vatican Claims Simpsons are Catholic”. How can a fictional cartoon character be Catholic or non-Catholic, of course? Just hype. A bit of fun.
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I think you have it right. It’s usually referred to as the “semi-official” newspaper of the Vatican. The paper is owned by the Holy See, and I believe the editor is either hired or approved by the Pope, so I think you are correct that it wouldn’t print anything truly at odds with the Vatican.
 
I heard about a column they came out saying the Homer Simpsons (a main characted from FOX cartoon “the Simpsons”) is a Roman Catholic.

Is it really that slow in Rome that they found it important to put this on the official newspaper for the Vatican?

BTW Homer is not Catholic, if you watch the Simpsons they attend protestant services 😉
 
The Simpsons story is part of what prompted this discussion. There was also a story recently that reminded me of this (not with L’Osservatore Romano) when the Vatican astronomer talked about how he would baptize an alien if the alien asked him. On another forum, the lines were immediately blurred and someone claimed that the Pope said aliens are our brethren. And then I watched this BBC story on the Simpsons, and the reporter wondered about the “Pope” drinking a beer watching the Simpsons.

The media can’t seem to tell the Pope apart from people who are not the Pope.
 
MarcoPolo said:
The Simpsons story is part of what prompted this discussion. There was also a story recently that reminded me of this (not with L’Osservatore Romano) when the Vatican astronomer talked about how he would baptize an alien if the alien asked him. On another forum, the lines were immediately blurred and someone claimed that the Pope said aliens are our brethren. And then I watched this BBC story on the Simpsons, and the reporter wondered about the “Pope” drinking a beer watching the Simpsons.

The media can’t seem to tell the Pope apart from people who are not the Pope.
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There is where the problem is. But thats the media for you.
 
archangel04 said:
Is it really that slow in Rome that they found it important to put this on the official newspaper for the Vatican?
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🙂 Indeed. Maybe Superman and Batman will both be canonized for their humanitarian efforts next. They certainly have enough miracles to qualify. :D:D
 
I firmly believe that they should promote Fr. Guido Sarducci to editor in chief.
 
Historically, L’Osservatore Romano was very much a mouthpiece for the Vatican. Unfortunately, this made for dull reading and low subscriptions. The Vatican has been propping it up financially for a very long time.

A new editor was hired 2.5 years ago, with the instruction to make the paper “more present in cultural debates.” Which is to say, engage more with popular culture and what people are talking about. I’m pretty sure that is, in part, hope to increase subscriptions to the point where the newspaper might be self-supporting.

The reporter John Allen, I think, has a good take on the newspapers current status:
While there is a loose coordination between Vian and the Secretariat of State on foreign policy, on most matters the editor calls his own shots – and increasingly, Vian’s shots are more journalistic in flavor and less institutional. In consequence, the right way to approach L’Osservatore Romano these days would seem to be as a guide to what literate, moderate-to-conservative Catholic insiders in Italy are thinking (or, in the case of “The Simpsons,” their guilty pleasures).
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ncronline.org/news/vatican/simpsons-and-vatican-press

Of course, against this needs to be weighed the paper’s tradition. The Vatican described it thus:
Faithful to its origins, in these 146 years of life L’Osservatore Romano has continued its work of the service of the truth. With enthusiasm and with no fear of sounding a discordant note, it has documented the history of peoples and nations. Above all, it has continued its privileged service, making known the Magisterium of the Successor of Peter.
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vatican.va/news_services/or/history/hi_eng.html
 
ProVobis said:
🙂 Indeed. Maybe Superman and Batman will both be canonized for their humanitarian efforts next. They certainly have enough miracles to qualify. :D:D
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Hey I am all in support to see “St. Batman” ja ja. You know how many times he could have been killed but survived? These are just miracles lol.

Honestly if the paper wants to have a “funny” at the last page and very bottom I don’t see something wrong with that as long as they don’t contradict the Church or promote anti-catholocism.
 
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