On 21 July my responsibility as “interim” Director of the Holy See Press Office will conclude. I am grateful to the Holy Father for the privilege he gave me in being his spokesman during such an intense period of his Pontificate, and for now offering me the opportunity to continue in his service as Deputy Editorial Director of the Vatican’s media. I am grateful to him for his constant fatherly support. I thank the Pope, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, and the Superiors of the Secretariat of State for respecting my decision, communicated at the beginning of my mandate and later confirmed, that I would carry out this very important role for a limited time. Even though filled with events, this time permitted a reorganization of the Press Office based on a common commitment with the Prefect, Paolo Ruffini, taken up six months ago.

As stated at the time of my appointment last 31 December, I took on this responsibility in a spirit of service, aware of this exceptional and unprecedented moment for the Holy See Press Office, given the sudden resignations of the Director and Vice Director. During these extremely busy six months – most especially also for my family - I received the full support of the Prefect Paolo Ruffini and my colleagues at the Press Office to whom I owe deep gratitude. I also had a particularly positive experience working with my fellow journalists, a relationship characterized by reciprocal respect, even during unavoidable confrontational moments. In that regard, among the initiatives accomplished under my direction, I would like to recall the naming of the hall in the Press Office where the journalists work as the “Sala Joaquín Navarro-Valls”. This example underscores that, in the Church and at the Holy See, information counts and must more and more increase in importance.

I am sure that Matteo Bruni will know how to manage the extraordinary team here at the Press Office in the best way possible. I offer him my best wishes for success, as well as my availability to collaborate.