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XII ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS

5-26 OCTOBER 2008

[Updated: 23.09.2008]


 

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION
FOR ACCREDITED JOURNALISTS

1. Topic

The Holy Father Benedict XVI has convoked the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in the Vatican from Sunday 5 to Sunday 26 October 2008, on the topic:

Verbum Domini in vita et missione Ecclesiæ
La Parola di Dio nella vita e nella missione della Chiesa
The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church
La Parole de Dieu dans la vie et la mission de l’Église
La Palabra de Dios en la vida y en la misión de la Iglesia
Das Wort Gottes im Leben und in der Sendung der Kirche


2. Accreditation for reporters

2.1. Requests are accepted for temporary accreditation by reporters who are not permanently accredited with the Holy See Press Office and intend to cover the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

2.2. To obtain temporary accreditation it is necessary to present the following:
- Application form issued by the Holy See Press Office.
- Letter of request for temporary accreditation to the Holy See Press Office by the Management of the news organization represented, which requests accreditation to cover the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (05-26.10.2008) and attests that the applicant is a professional journalist; and, must agree to respect the ethical norms of the journalistic profession (ex. those concerning embargo, etc.).
- Pho­tocopy of the valid pas­sport or other legal iden­tity document.
- Pho­tocopy of press-card (for those who come from countries where this exists).
- No. 1 recent passport-size photograph in color and signed on the back (in case of consignment through e-mail: file in JPG format), for those who have not been accredited during the last two years with the Holy See Press Office.

2.3. The above-mentioned documentation is to be sent to:

Holy See Press Office
Accreditation Office
via della Conciliazione, 54
SCV-00120 VATICAN CITY STATE
Telephone: +39-06-698.921
Telefax: +39-06-698.85178
E-mail: accreditamenti@pressva.va

[this E-mail address is reserved exclusively for sending information, photographs, etc. in electronic form regarding the accreditation procedure]

2.4. Reporters who are non-residents of Rome are asked to transmit their request through the Episcopal Conference of their country of residence.

2.5. The Secretariat for Accreditations of the Holy See Press Office is open, Monday to Friday from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
2.6. Incomplete applications or those that are not in conformity with the above-mentioned conditions will not be taken into consideration.

2.7. Temporary accreditation badges will be available from Thursday 2 October 2008.

2.8. Accredited journalists (reporters, still photographers and TV operators) are kindly requested to visibly wear their accreditation badge. This applies also to permanently accredited journalists.

3. Accreditation for still photographers and TV operators

Still photographers and TV operators are asked to address their requests to:

Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Audiovisual Service
via della Conciliazione, 5
SCV-00120 VATICAN CITY STATE
Telephone: +39-06-698.91830
Telefax: +39-06-698.91841
E-mail: av@pccs.va
Internet: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/av-pccs/Accreditamento_AV_en.htm


4. Opening hours of the Holy See Press Office

4.1. During the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Holy See Press Office will observe the following opening hours, from 3 to 26 October 2008:

- Friday 3 October: 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
- Saturday 4 October: 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
- Sunday 5 October: 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
- Monday 6 October: 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
- From Tuesday 7 October to Saturday 11 October: 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
- Sunday 12 October: 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
- Monday 13 October and Tuesday 14 October: 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
- Wednesday 15 October: 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
- Thursday 16 October and Friday 17 October: 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
- Saturday 18 October: 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.
- Sunday 19 October: 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
- From Monday 20 October to Saturday 25 October: 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
- Sunday 26 October: 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

4.2. The staff of the Information and Accreditation Desk (to the right of the entrance hall) will be available:

- Monday-Friday9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
- Saturday9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
4.3. Notice of any changes will be communicated as soon as possible and will be posted on the bulletin board in the Journalists’ Area of the Holy See Press Office, published in the Bulletin of the Commission for information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and in the Service Information area of the Internet site of the Holy See (http://www.vatican.va).

5. Briefings for language groups


5.1. In order to provide more accurate information on the work of the Synod, five language groups have been organised for the accredited journalists.

5.2. The location for the briefings and the name of the press attaché for each of the language groups are as follows:

Italian language group
Press attaché: Rev. Msg. Giorgio COSTANTINO
Location: Journalists’ Room, Holy See Press Office

English language group
Press attaché: Rev. Fr. Thomas ROSICA, C.S.B.
Location: John Paul II Conference Hall, Holy See Press Office

French language group
Press attaché: Rev. Msgr Mons. Joseph Bato’ora BALLONG WEN MEWUDA
Location: Marconi Room, Vatican Radio, Palazzo Pio, Piazza Pia 3

Spanish language group
Press attaché: Mr. Jésus COLINA
Location: Telecommunications Room, Holy See Press Office

German language group
Press attaché: Rev. Markus GRAULICH, S.D.B.
Location: Pastoral Centre for German Pilgrims, Via della Conciliazione 51

5.3. On the days listed below, a briefing by the press attachés is scheduled at 1.10 p.m., indicatively, for each language group:

- Tuesday 7 October 2008 (for the II and III General Congregation);
- Wednesday 8 October 2008 (at approximately 2 pm, for the IV General Congregation and for the Sessio I of the Circuli Minores; at the conclusion of the Press Conference for the Presentation of the Message for the 95° World Day of the Migrant and the Refugee at 12.30 pm and the Briefing of the Bible Society at 1.30 pm, in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office);
- Thursday 9 October 2008 (for the V and VI General Congregation);
- Friday 10 October 2008 (for the VII and VIII General Congregation);
- Saturday 11 October 2008 (for the IX and X General Congregation);
- Monday 13 October 2008 (for the XI General Congregation);
- Tuesday 14 October 2008 (for the XII General Congregation);
- Wednesday 15 October 2008 (at approximately 1.30 pm, for the XIII General Congregation; at the conclusion of the Press Conference for the Presentation of the film “Testimony” from the book “A life with Karol” of Card. Stanislaw Dziwisz and Gian Franco Svidercoschi, at 12.30 pm, in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office);
- Friday 17 October 2008 (for the XIV, XV and XVII General Congregation and for the Sessio II and III of the Circuli Minores);
- Saturday 18 October 2008 (for the Sessio IV of the Circuli Minores and for the XVIII General Congregation);
- Friday 24 October 2008 (for the XIX and XX General Congregation and for the Sessio V, VI, VII and VIII of the Circuli Minores).

5.4. On the day listed below for each language group briefing the press attachés will be accompanied by one of the Synod Fathers pertaining to the same language group at 1.10 p.m., indicatively:

- Tuesday 21 October 2008 (following the presentation of the Elenchus unicus propositionum)

5.5. Eventual updates will be published as soon as possible.

6. Press Conferences

6.1. There will be three press conferences, which will take place at 12.45 p.m., indicatively, in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office (with simultaneous translation in Italian, English, French, Spanish and German), and are open to accredited reporters (still photographers and TV operators are subject to pool arrangements and have only limited access):

- Monday 6 October 2008 (following the Relatio ante disceptationem)
- Thursday 16 October 2008 (the day following the Relatio post disceptationem)
- Saturday 25 October 2008 (the day following the presentation of the Elenchus finalis)

6.2. The names of the participants and any changes in the above dates and times will be communicated as early as possible through the Bulletin of the Commission for information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and the Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office.

6.3. On Friday 3 October 2008, at 11.30 a.m. in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office, His Ecc. Msgr. Nikola Eterović, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, will hold a briefing in order to furnish information on the significance and the course of events of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

7. Pools

7.1. On the days listed below, pools of accredited journalists will have access to the Synod Hall, scheduled for the opening prayer of the morning General Congregations:

- Tuesday 7 October 2008
- Thursday 9 October 2008
- Friday 10 October 2008
- Saturday 11 October 2008
- Monday 13 October 2008
- Tuesday 14 October 2008- Friday 17 October 2008
- Saturday 18 October 2008
- Tuesday 21 October 2008
- Friday 24 October 2008
- Saturday 25 October 2008

7.2. Registration lists for the pools will be made available to reporters at the Information and Accreditation Desk of the Holy See Press Office (to the right of the entrance hall).

7.3. For the pools still photographers and TV operators are requested to apply to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (see point 3).

7.4. The participants of the pools are requested to meet at 8.30 a.m. in the Press Sector which is located outside, in front of the entrance to the Paul VI Hall. From there they will be accompanied at all times by an official of the Holy See Press Office (for reporters) and by an official of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (for still photographers and TV camera teams). Suitable dress is required.

8. Bulletin Synodus Episcoporum

8.1. The Bulletin of the Commission for information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, entitled Synodus Episcoporum and published by the Holy See Press Office, will be issued in 6 language editions (plurilingual, Italian, English, French, Spanish and German), with 2 issues each day (morning and afternoon), or according to necessity.

8.2. The morning issue will be published at the conclusion of the morning General Congregation, and the afternoon issue the following morning.

8.3. Distribution to accredited journalists will take place in the Journalists’ Room of the Holy See Press Office.

8.4. The plurilingual edition will contain summaries of the interventions by synod fathers, as prepared by themselves in their own languages. The other 4 editions will report the respective versions in Italian, English, French and Spanish.

8.5. The first two issues of the Bulletin will be published on Friday 3 October 2008. The first issue will contain the complete and updated list of all the synod fathers and other participants. The second issue will contain the working program and general information on the Synod.

8.6. The third issue of the Bulletin will contain the Holy Father’s homily for the solemn opening and Concelebration of Holy Mass on the morning of Sunday 5 October 2008 (it will be available to accredited journalists when the Holy See Press Office opens, under embargo).

8.7. The fourth issue of the Bulletin will contain the reports which will be presented in the first General Congregation of the morning of Monday 6 October 2008 (which will be transmitted live on TV in the Holy See Press Office).

8.8. The language editions of the Bulletin will also be available on the Holy See Internet site:
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/sinodo/sinodo_index_en.htm

8.9. Please note that the Bulletin of the Synod of Bishops is only a working instrument for journalistic use and that the translations from the original are not official.

9. Telecommunications

9.1. E-mail service (Journalists’ Room)

In the Journalists’ Room some PC are available with Internet connection free of charge, to send E-mail messages and to consult a personal E-mail account.

9.2. WI-FI

The Holy See Press Office (as also the Loggia di Carlo Magno and St. Peters Square) are hot-spot, access points to the wireless network for Internet wireless transmissions. Those who have a properly equipped laptop computer for wireless navigation through WI-FI and are in possession of the User ID and Password for log-in assigned by their provider, can use this service provided by Telecom Italia.

10. Telephone news-bulletin

During the period of the Synod, a telephone news-bulletin will be in operation:

+39-06-698.19: for the ordinary daily Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office;
+39-06-698.84051: for the Bulletin of the Synod of Bishops - morning session;
+39-06-698.84877: for the Bulletin of the Synod of Bishops - afternoon session.

11. Photographic service

During the period of the Synod, photographic services will be furnished by:

L’Osservatore Romano
Photographic Service
via del Pellegrino
SCV-00120 VATICAN CITY STATE
Telephone: +39-06-698.84797
Telefax: +39-06-698.84998
E-mail: photo@ossrom.va


12. Video service

During the period of the Synod, video services will be furnished by:

Vatican Television Centre
via del Pellegrino
SCV-00120 VATICAN CITY STATE
Telephone: +39-06-698.85233/85467
Telefax: +39-06-698.85192E-mail: ctv@ctv.va


13. Live TV coverage

13.1. The following events will be transmitted live on the TV monitors in the Telecommunications Room, in the Journalists’ Room and in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office:

- Sunday 5 October 2008 (9.30 am): Solemn opening ceremony and Eucaristic Concelebration (Basilica of Saint Paul outside the walls).
- Monday 6 October 2008 (9.00 am): First Part of the First General Congregation.
- Thursday 9 October 2008 (11.00 am): Holy Mass at the occasion of the 50° Anniversary of the Death of the Servant of God Pope Pius XII (Saint Peter’s Basilica).
- Sunday 12 October (10.00 am): Solemn Concelebration with Canonizations (Saint Peter’s Square).
- Wednesday 15 October 2008 (4.30 pm): Part of the Sixteenth General Congregation during which the Relatio post disceptatio­nem is presented.
- Saturday 18 October 2008 (5 pm): Celebration of the Word.
- Sunday 19 October 2008 (10.30 am): Eucaristic Concelebration (Square of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei).
- Sunday 26 October 2008 (9.30 am): Solemn Concelebration of the Holy Mass at the conclusion of the Synod (Saint Peter’s Basilica).

13.2. Eventual updates will be published as soon as possible.

14. Program

14.1. The working program of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be published in the N. 2 of the Bulletin of the Commission for information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of 3 October 2008.

14.2. Any updates will be published as they are available.

15. Other information

15.1. The preparatory documents for the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Instrumentum laboris and Lineamenta) may be consulted on the Holy See Internet site:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/index_en.htm

15.2. Other information regarding dispositions for accredited journalists will be announced as soon as possible, published in the Bulletin of the Commission for information of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.


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