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Pope appoints former Fox TV correspondent as Vatican spokesman Pope appoints ex-Fox News correspondent as Vatican spokesman
(35 minutes later)
Pope Francis has named a former Fox TV correspondent to replace his longtime spokesman and tapped a Spanish woman to be his deputy, the first time a woman has held the post. Pope Francis has named a former Fox News correspondent to replace his longtime spokesman and tapped a Spanish woman to be his deputy, the first time a woman has held the post.
Greg Burke takes over from the Rev Federico Lombardi, a Jesuit like Francis who has been Vatican spokesman for a decade. Greg Burke, who is a member of the conservative Opus Dei movement, takes over from the Rev Federico Lombardi, a Jesuit like Francis who has been Vatican spokesman for a decade.
Burke recently moved in as Lombardi’s deputy after working as a communications adviser in the Vatican’s secretariat of state.Burke recently moved in as Lombardi’s deputy after working as a communications adviser in the Vatican’s secretariat of state.
Burke’s deputy will be Paloma Garcia Ovejero, who is the Vatican correspondent for the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Cope.Burke’s deputy will be Paloma Garcia Ovejero, who is the Vatican correspondent for the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Cope.
The change announced on Monday is part of an overhaul of the Vatican’s communications operations. The change announced on Monday is part of an overhaul of the Vatican’s communications operation.
Lombardi was named spokesman exactly 10 years ago on Monday, adding to his already heavy load as director of Vatican Radio.
He won the respect of journalists for his dry humour, reliable readouts and cool amid many Vatican storms. From sex abuse scandals to Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation and the election of a fellow Jesuit as pope, Lombardi rarely seemed to get flustered.
Lombardi told the Associated Press on Monday he did not know what he would do in the future but that “I don’t foresee disappearing completely from the Vatican”, suggesting a possible informal communications advisory role down the line.
He said he had always offered to step aside as part of the Vatican’s revamping of its communications strategy and said the time simply had arrived for the change.