Vatican announces broadcast times for Holy Week and Easter 2016 ceremonies

14 Mar 2016

Vatican television has announced the broadcast times for the Holy Week and Easter 2016 ceremonies.  These are offered freely to all broadcasters via Eurovision Worldfeed and satellite feeds which will begin about ten minutes earlier to allow for line-up.  For latest updates see worldtelecast/Easter2016.  Please see details below:

  • Good Friday 25 March 2016: Way of the Cross at the Colosseum, Rome.  Celebration time from 20.15 until 22.00 UTC/GMT.
  • Easter Sunday 27 March 2016: Saint Peter’s Square, Mass of Easter Sunday followed by the Holy Father’s Easter Message and Blessing to the City and to the World ‘Urbi et Orbi’ at 12 noon from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica.  Celebration time from 08.15 until 10.30 UTC/GMT.

Notes for Editors

Satellite Distribution (to be confirmed):
Africa: Eutelsat 5 West A (ex AB3) @ 355° E
Americhe: SES-6 @ 319.5° E
Asia: Asiasat 5 @ 100.5° E
Europa: Eutelsat 7A @ 7° E
US Domestic: Galaxy @
Vatican Radio audio commentaries in English, Spanish, and French available on satellite audio channels. The commentaries begin about ten minutes before the start of the celebration.

For Catholic Television Outlets
Europa: Eutelsat Hotbird 13B (HD) @ 13° E
Americhe: Telstar 12 V @ 15° W
Audio commentaries in other languages provided by Vatican Radio via ISDN.  Availability is limited and requests should be addressed to the International Relations Office of Vatican Radio [email protected] (tel. +39 06 698 83945), which will assign them on a first come, first served basis.

Vatican media contact for coordination of World Telecasts
Vatican Television Center
Email: [email protected]
Web: worldtelecast/Easter 2016
Tel: +39 06 698 85300
Fax: +39 06 698 85665

Satellite Distribution
Eurovision World Feed Desk
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.eurovision.net/wf/worldfeeds.php
Tel: +41 22 717 2822
Fax: +41 22 747 4822

Audio Commentaries
International Relations Office
Radio Vaticana
Email: [email protected]
tel. +39 06 698 83945
Television commentary positions available in Vatican City
(Media centre – Saint Pio X Hall, Via dell’Ospedale,1 Rome)

International Relations Office
Vatican Radio
Email: [email protected]
tel. +39 06 698 83945
Mr. Paolo Innamorati

ENDS                                             

For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444