| LOGISTICAL INFORMATION
FOR ACCREDITED JOURNALISTS 1. Topic
The Holy Father Benedict XVI has convoked the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in the Vatican from Sunday 10 to Sunday 24 October 2010, on the topic: «The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness. “Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4: 32)».
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 Special Assembly for the Middle East 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 and available in Logistical Information area of the Internet site of the Holy See (http://www.vatican.va).
- 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 Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops (10-24.10.2010) and attests that the applicant is a professional journalist; and, must agree to respect the ethical norms of the journalistic profession, in particular those concerning embargo.
- 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 copy of the letter mentioned at point 2.2. to the Episcopal Conference of their country of residence.
2.5. The Accreditation Officie 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 Friday 8 October 2010.
2.8. All 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.pccs.va/accredito.htm
4. Opening hours of the Holy See Press Office
4.1. During the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, the Holy See Press Office will observe the following opening hours, from 8 to 24 October 2010:
- Friday 8 October: 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
- Saturday 9 October: 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
- Sunday 10 October: 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
- From Monday 11 October to Saturday 16 October: 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
- Sunday 17 October: 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
- From Monday 18 October to Saturday 23 October: 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
- Sunday 24 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-Friday: 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9.00 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 Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops and in the Logistical 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, four language groups have been organized for the accredited journalists.
5.2. The name of the press attaché and the location for the briefings 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: Dr Tracey Alicia McCLURE
Location: John Paul II Conference Hall, Holy See Press Office
- French language group
Press attaché: Mrs Romilda FERRAUTO
Location: “Blu” Room 1° Level, Holy See Press Office
- Arabic language group
Press attaché: Fr Jean MOUHANNA, O.M.M.
Location: Telecommunications Room, Holy See Press Office
5.3. On the days listed below, a briefing by the press attachés is scheduled at 1.30 p.m., indicatively, for each language group:
1. Tuesday 12 October 2010
2. Wednesday 13 October 2010
3. Thursday 14 October 2010
4. Friday 15 October 2010
5. Saturday 16 October 2010
6. Tuesday 19 October 2010
7. Thursday 21 October 2010
8. Friday 22 October 2010
5.4. On some occasions the Press Attaches will be accompanied by a Synodal Father or by an Expert.
5.5. The names of the participants and any changes in the above dates and times will be communicated as early as possible.
6. Press Conferences
6.1. On Friday 8 October 2010, 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 Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops.
6.2. At the occasion of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops there will be 3 press conferences, which will take place indicatively at 12.45 p.m. in the John Paul II Conference Hall of the Holy See Press Office (with simultaneous translation in Italian, English, French and Arabic), and are open to accredited reporters (still photographers and TV operators are subject to pool arrangements and have only limited access):
- Monday 11 October 2010 (following the Relatio ante disceptationem)
- Monday 18 October 2010 (following the Relatio post disceptationem)
- Saturday 23 October 2010 (following the Nuntius and following the Elenchus finalis propositionum)
6.3. The names of the participants and any changes in the above dates and times will be communicated as early as possible through the Bulletin Synodus Episcoporum and the Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office.
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:
1. Monday 11 October 2010
2. Tuesday 12 October 2010
3. Thursday 14 October 2010
4. Friday 15 October 2010
5. Saturday 16 October 2010
6. Monday 18 October 2010
7. Thursday 21 October 2010
8. Friday 22 October 2010
9. Saturday 23 October 2010
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 Special Assembly for the Middle East 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 Arabic), 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 5 editions will report the respective versions in Italian, English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
8.5. The first two issues of the Bulletin will be published on Friday 8 October 2010. 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 10 October 2010 (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 11 October 2010 (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. PC availability (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: +39-06-698.85192
E-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 10 October 2010 (9.30 am): Solemn opening ceremony with Concelebration of the Holy Mass (Saint Peter’s Basilica)
- Monday 11 October 2010 (9.00 am): Part of the First General Congregation during which the Report of the Secretary General and the Relatio ante disceptationem are presented
- Sunday 17 October (10.00 am): Solemn Eucharistic Concelebration with Canonization (Saint Peter’s Square)
- Monday 18 October 2010 (9.00 am): Part of the General Congregation during which the Relatio post disceptationem is presented
- Sunday 24 October 2010 (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 synodal working program will be published in the N. 2 of the Bulletin Synodus Episcoporum of 8 October 2010.
14.2. Any updates will be published as they will be available.
15. Other information
15.1. The preparatory documents for the (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 Synodus Episcoporum. |
