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Joaquín Navarro-Valls, Ex-Vatican Spokesman, Dies at 80 Joaquín Navarro-Valls, Ex-Vatican Spokesman, Dies at 80
(2 days later)
Joaquín Navarro-Valls, who served as the Vatican’s spokesman, papal adviser and strategic envoy during the long and historic tenure of Pope John Paul II, died on Wednesday in Rome. He was 80. Joaquín Navarro-Valls, who served as the Vatican’s spokesman, papal adviser and strategic envoy during the long and historic tenure of Pope John Paul II, died on July 5 in Rome. He was 80.
The cause was pancreatic cancer, according to Opus Dei, the influential religious order to which Mr. Navarro-Valls belonged as a lay member.The cause was pancreatic cancer, according to Opus Dei, the influential religious order to which Mr. Navarro-Valls belonged as a lay member.
That religious connection was critical to his joining the Vatican in 1984, as was his background as a Spanish journalist and his role, at the time of his hiring by the first non-Italian pope since the 1520s, as the president of Rome’s Foreign Press Association. That religious connection was critical to his joining the Vatican in 1984, as was his background as a Spanish journalist and his role, at the time he was hired by the first non-Italian pope since the 1520s, as the president of Rome’s Foreign Press Association.
During the 22 years Mr. Navarro-Valls ran the Vatican press office, of which he was the first lay leader, he sought to internationalize and modernize the communications of an institution that was often seen as stuffy and insular.During the 22 years Mr. Navarro-Valls ran the Vatican press office, of which he was the first lay leader, he sought to internationalize and modernize the communications of an institution that was often seen as stuffy and insular.
In 1992, he oversaw a $2 million renovation of the press office that brought in new technology and later made basic information — speeches and statistics on the Polish pope’s activities — readily available online. For the reporters whose calls he returned, he often tried to shape stories about a pope to whom he was fiercely loyal. In 1992, he oversaw a $2 million renovation of the press office that brought in new technology and later made basic information — speeches and statistics on the pope’s activities — readily available online. For the reporters whose calls he returned, he often tried to shape stories about a pope to whom he was fiercely loyal.
He became a familiar face beyond the Vatican, acting as the charismatic pope’s suave wingman on the majority of his 104 foreign trips. He became a familiar face beyond the Vatican, acting as the charismatic pope’s suave wingman on most of his 104 foreign trips.
Some veterans of the Vatican press corps have wryly noted that Mr. Navarro-Valls studied medicine and specialized in psychiatry, “perfect for his job as papal ‘spin doctor,’” Victor Simpson, who covered John Paul’s entire pontificate in Rome for The Associated Press, wrote after the spokesman’s death. Some veterans of the Vatican press corps have wryly noted that Mr. Navarro-Valls studied medicine and specialized in psychiatry — “perfect for his job as papal ‘spin doctor,’ ” Victor Simpson, who covered John Paul’s entire pontificate in Rome for The Associated Press, wrote after Mr. Navarro-Valls’s death.
But Navarro, as he was widely known, had little in common with the partisan attack dogs of modern-day political warfare.But Navarro, as he was widely known, had little in common with the partisan attack dogs of modern-day political warfare.
“Grace under pressure,” Greg Burke, the Vatican’s current spokesman, wrote on Twitter upon his death. In a subsequent email, Mr. Burke attested to Mr. Navarro-Vall’s storytelling skills: “When talking about John Paul, he could have you hanging on every word.”“Grace under pressure,” Greg Burke, the Vatican’s current spokesman, wrote on Twitter upon his death. In a subsequent email, Mr. Burke attested to Mr. Navarro-Vall’s storytelling skills: “When talking about John Paul, he could have you hanging on every word.”
But Mr. Navarro-Valls’s influence extended beyond the press office.But Mr. Navarro-Valls’s influence extended beyond the press office.
In 1994, he led the Holy See’s delegation at a conference in Cairo, where he helped form an alliance of Catholic and Muslim nations to oppose the legal recognition of abortion as a human right. He challenged the Clinton administration’s position on the topic.In 1994, he led the Holy See’s delegation at a conference in Cairo, where he helped form an alliance of Catholic and Muslim nations to oppose the legal recognition of abortion as a human right. He challenged the Clinton administration’s position on the topic.
“Mr. Al Gore, Vice President of the U.S.A. and member of the American delegation, recently stated that ‘the United States has not sought, does not seek and will not seek to establish an international right to abortion,’” Mr. Navarro-Valls said at the time. “The draft population document, which has the United States as its principal sponsor, contradicts, in reality, Mr. Gore’s statement.” “Mr. Al Gore, vice president of the U.S.A. and member of the American delegation, recently stated that ‘the United States has not sought, does not seek and will not seek to establish an international right to abortion,’ ” Mr. Navarro-Valls said at the time. “The draft population document, which has the United States as its principal sponsor, contradicts, in reality, Mr. Gore’s statement.”
As Mr. Burke noted, “Navarro knew how to play hardball.”As Mr. Burke noted, “Navarro knew how to play hardball.”
A few years later, in 1997, he met with Fidel Castro in Cuba, before a papal visit there, and the meeting resulted in Cuba’s decision to restore Christmas as a holiday. As he did on the trip to Cuba, he often acted as a member of John Paul’s inner circle, speaking with authority. A few years later, in 1997, Mr. Navarro-Valls met with Fidel Castro in Cuba, before a papal visit there, and the meeting resulted in Cuba’s decision to restore Christmas as a holiday. As he did on that trip, he often acted as a member of John Paul’s inner circle, speaking with authority.
But sometimes he eroded that credibility by overreacting or overreaching.But sometimes he eroded that credibility by overreacting or overreaching.
He once kicked an Italian reporter off a plane for a negative article the reporter had written about John Paul, which embarrassed himself with the press corps. He also tarnished the Vatican’s reputation as a transparent institution when he gave a detailed and Vatican-friendly account to reporters of a meeting in Guatemala between the pope and Rigoberta Menchú, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a critic of the church. In fact, the meeting had never occurred. He once kicked an Italian reporter off a plane for a negative article the reporter had written about John Paul, embarrassing himself with the press corps. He also tarnished the Vatican’s reputation as a transparent institution when he gave a detailed Vatican-friendly account to reporters of a meeting in Guatemala between the pope and Rigoberta Menchú, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a critic of the church. In fact, the meeting had never occurred.
In 1996, he drew the internal criticism of some Vatican officials when he became the first Holy See official to indirectly acknowledge that the pope had Parkinson’s disease.In 1996, he drew the internal criticism of some Vatican officials when he became the first Holy See official to indirectly acknowledge that the pope had Parkinson’s disease.
As the pope’s condition deteriorated, Mr. Navarro-Valls, the onetime medical student, updated journalists with medical reports. Sometimes, he put a highly suspicious spin on things, as when he said that the pope, fitted with a tracheal tube to improve his breathing, enjoyed a breakfast of cookies. As the pope’s condition deteriorated, Mr. Navarro-Valls, the onetime medical student, updated journalists with medical reports. Sometimes he put a highly suspicious spin on things, as when he said that the pope, fitted with a tracheal tube to improve his breathing, enjoyed a breakfast of cookies.
But in April 2005, as John Paul neared death, emotion overcame Mr. Navarro-Valls when a reporter asked for his personal reaction. It was a jarring moment for everyone in attendance and a clear sign of the end of an era.But in April 2005, as John Paul neared death, emotion overcame Mr. Navarro-Valls when a reporter asked for his personal reaction. It was a jarring moment for everyone in attendance and a clear sign of the end of an era.
The spokesman stayed on for another 15 months under Benedict XVI, but it was clear the connection was not the same. In the decade after his retirement, Mr. Navarro-Valls was often seen on the streets of the elegant Rome neighborhood where he lived in an Opus Dei residence, elegantly dressed with slicked-back silver hair. Mr. Navarro-Valls stayed on for another 15 months under Pope Benedict XVI, but it was clear the connection was not the same. In the decade after his retirement, he was often seen on the streets of the elegant Rome neighborhood where he lived in an Opus Dei residence, elegantly dressed and with slicked-back silver hair.
But in 2014, he momentarily left retirement before the canonization of John Paul. He returned to the press office to defend the late pontiff, who he argued had not grasped the gravity and breadth of the sex abuse scandal in the church. “I don’t think he understood” how serious it was, he said, “but I don’t think anyone did.”But in 2014, he momentarily left retirement before the canonization of John Paul. He returned to the press office to defend the late pontiff, who he argued had not grasped the gravity and breadth of the sex abuse scandal in the church. “I don’t think he understood” how serious it was, he said, “but I don’t think anyone did.”
Born in Cartagena, Spain, on Nov. 16, 1936, Mr. Navarro-Valls studied at a German school before taking up medicine and psychiatry. Along the way, he dabbled in acting and met the Spanish priest Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, and joined the order. He worked in a hospital for more than a decade, but it was journalism, which he also studied, where he made his mark. Born in Cartagena, Spain, on Nov. 16, 1936, Mr. Navarro-Valls studied at a German school before taking up medicine and psychiatry. Along the way, he dabbled in acting and met the Spanish priest Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, and joined the order.
He worked in a hospital for more than a decade. But it was journalism, which he also studied, where he made his mark.
He moved to Rome in 1970 and became a correspondent for the Spanish newspaper ABC. Popular among his colleagues, he twice won election as president of the Rome-based Foreign Press Association, the credential that he insisted had caught John Paul’s eye.He moved to Rome in 1970 and became a correspondent for the Spanish newspaper ABC. Popular among his colleagues, he twice won election as president of the Rome-based Foreign Press Association, the credential that he insisted had caught John Paul’s eye.
Mr. Navarro-Valls is survived by three brothers, Rafael, Juan Carlos and Javier.