Pope's communications officer makes P.E.I. stop

Father Thomas Rosica has an interesting job. Yes, he's a Catholic priest, by trade an educator, a professor of sacred scripture, but he has another title as well.

He's the English-Language Attaché to the Holy See Press Office at the Vatican.

Basically, he's a communications officer for the Pope.

The Canadian priest was at UPEI last week for an event, and dropped by CBC Mainstreet to tell Angela Walker about his work.

Father Rosica got his job after being asked several times to be spokesperson for Vatican programs, and being available during a crisis for the church.

"The rug was pulled out from under our feet, and the feet of the church in January, February of 2013, when Benedict resigned," said Father Rosica. "I was immediately brought to Rome, and told that you will be the English-language spokesperson during the conclave, during the transition, during this incredibly moving period of church history."

Thousands of journalists

He ended up dealing with 1,000 to 2,000 journalists at press conferences every day, going through the new experience of having a Pope resign while in office.

Being Canadian, he showed a little favouritism to his homeland.

"Peter Mansbridge commandeered me and said, 'You must be with me when the smoke comes out!' So I got permission, and said 'I have to show preference to Canada,'" Father Rosica said.

After that, he was asked to assume the responsibility of communicating with English–language journalists, which he has been doing every morning for the past three-and-a-half years.

What's the Pope really like?

During that time, he has observed Pope Francis closely, and enjoys explaining what he's like as a person.

"People say, 'Is he really like that, those hugs and kisses and the embracing and the babies and everything else?' What you see folks is what you get," he said. "There is nothing put on, nothing staged, nothing orchestrated, he is a warm, wonderful human being."

Father Rosica was made a Newman Fellow at the Blessed John Henry Newman Dinner at UPEI.

It's hosted by the UPEI Catholic Studies Program and the Canadian Catholic Students Association and it honours the Catholic heritage of UPEI's founding institution, St. Dunstan's University.

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