Thursday, December 22, 2016

Guess who's on television

At 9:08am this morning (local time in Rome), the Holy Father, Pope Francis communicated by telephone with the television programme TG1-RAI1 Unomattina (One morning), marking the thirtieth anniversary of transmission of that programme.


Transcription of the words spoken by Pope Francis
during the telephone conversation

Interviewer
We are ready, Holiness ...

Pope Francis
Good morning!

Interviewer
Good morning, thank you!

Pope Francis
They told me that today is an important day for you at Unomattina: the thirtieth anniversary of your programme's transmission.

Interviewer
That is true ...

Pope Francis
I wanted to complement you, along with the authors of the programme, the directors, the journalists, the cameramen, the technicians, the employees ... in short, all those who are working to bring about this very popular programme.  I know that today, the directors of TG1 and RAI1 are also present with you: I greet them too and wish you all good fortune with your work!

Interviewer
Thank you, Holiness.  We - Francesca and I - also want to congratulate you, along with all the journalists, the directors and the technicians for your birthday, for your 80th birthday.  And now, we have prepared a little surprise for You, Holiness.  Here it is ...

Pope Francis
Let's see what this little surprise is ...
(a pictorial montage of Pope Francis is shown on the live broadcast)

Interviewer
Holiness, are you still on the phone with us?

Pope Francis
Yes, yes, and I thank you for the surprise.

Interviewer
We want to thank You, and since in a few days it will be Christmas, we want to know if ... meanwhile, we wish you Merry Christmas, Holiness! ... if you wanted to leave a message for those who are watching at home: among them are also many who are elderly, many who are sick ...

Pope Francis
Yes.  I wish them a Christian Christmas, like the first one was, when God wanted to turn worldly values upside down, he made himself small and was born in a stall, with the little ones, with the poor, with the marginalized ... Smallness.  In this world, where the god of money is so much adored, may Christmas help us to look toward the smallness of this God who turned worldly values upside down.  I wish you a holy and happy Christmas: a holy and a happy Christmas.  Greetings to everyone.

Interviewer
Thank you, Holiness.  Merry Christmas!

Pope Francis
Merry Christmas!

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