New Director for Vatican Press

Fr Sergio Pellini

Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone SDB, has appointed Salesian Fr Sergio Pellini as director general of the Vatican Press today. He will be heading the Vatican office that prints Vatican books, the L'Osservatore Romano and other publications. Born at Legnago on 16 May 1959, Fr Pellini made his novitiate at Pinerolo and took his first religious vows in 1976. He was ordained priest in August 1987.

Fr Pellini has been Rector of the St Francis of Sales Community and of the Salesian House of San Benigno Canavese. Between 2005 and 1 June 2011, he was Rector of the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians at Turin-Valdocco.

Fr Federico Lombardi SJ, was appointed head of the Vatican Press Office by Pope Benedict in July 2006. He replaced Dr Joaquín Navarro-Valls, who held the post for 22 years, through most of the papacy of Pope John Paul II.

Fr Lombardi's appointment to the Press Office of the Holy See merged that role with the leadership of Vatican Radio and Vatican Television Centre for the first time.

Source: VIS/ICN