Woman to lead theological-pastoral aspect of Vatican communications

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The director of the new
theological-pastoral department of the Vatican Secretariat for Communications
is Natasa Govekar, a theologian who specializes in the communication of faith
through images.

The Vatican announced Pope Francis’ nomination of Govekar, a
Slovenian, Feb. 9. At the same time, the pope named Francesco Masci, a
37-year-old official at the Vatican Internet Office, to direct the
secretariat’s technical office.

The communications secretariat was established by Pope
Francis to coordinate and streamline Vatican communications. The organizational
structure also is expected to include an editorial department, but that
director has yet to be named.

Msgr. Dario Vigano, prefect of the secretariat, issued a
statement highlighting the youth of the two appointees as well as the pope’s
choice of a woman theologian to handle the theological-pastoral aspect of
Vatican communications activities. Govekar, who holds a doctorate in missiology
from the Pontifical Gregorian University, is a member of the staff of Rome’s
Centro Aletti, a study and research center focused particularly on the art and
spirituality of Eastern Christianity.

“The Holy Father appointing a woman as head of the
theological-pastoral department is an affirmation that attention to the
pastoral is not exclusive to pastors, but involves the practices and ways of
being church today,” Msgr. Vigano said. “The church is the gathering
of men and women disciples of Jesus Christ. I am certain that in reflecting on
the role of communications in the church, she will be of great assistance.”

The secretariat’s responsibility includes coordinating the
work of the Vatican website, Vatican Television Center, Vatican Radio, the
Vatican newspaper and the Vatican press office.

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