Journalist Who Announced Pope's Resignation Tells News-Writing Process

World Bulletin
February 13, 2013

http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=103278

Ansa

Italian journalist Giovanna Chirri tells story about moment of Pope's resignation.

World Bulletin / News Desk

Italian journalist Giovanna Chirri, who announced the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the world, described the moment of writing the news and said, "When I was writing the news for publishing, one side of me said 'do it' and the other said, 'you might be doing a mistake'."

Giovanna Chirri, The Vatican correspondent of the Italian news agency ANSA, told the story of the news in regards to the Pope's resignation to AA.

Chirru, who knew Latin, was following the ceremony of the "Consistory for the canonization of the martyrs of Otranto" when the Pope made the announcement of his resignation.

"The Pope made a detailed speech in Latin. He was talking about the need to restructure the Conclave process. It was very clear, however; we did not have his text of speech. We weren't expecting this. When I was writing the news for publishing, one side of me said 'do it' and the other said, 'you might be doing a mistake'. It was a little difficult," Chirri said.

Journalist Chirri stated that the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, describing the Pope's decision as "lightning on the bright sky" at the ceremony made her realize the resignation clearly, write the news article and publish it.

Stating that she was very pleased with presenting an incident that happened after 600 years in The Vatican history, Chirri said, "To be honest, I don't really look at whether I gave the news first, second or third. Because I know I should have given the news. But of course I'm pleased to have because we are talking about an important person, a leader of one billion Catholics."