– José Maria C.S. André
Last Saturday, June 8, Vatican Radio finally began a newscast in Latin. Official documents are written in Latin since many centuries; the liturgical texts of reference are written in Latin; the Pope tweets in Latin; on important feasts, Francis and the previous Popes continue to celebrate the Mass in Latin. Vatican Radio itself regularly transmits the Mass in Latin and broadcasts cultural programs in Latin. Nevertheless, a news bulletin in Latin was missing. Vatican Radio has news in many languages, but this one was missing. But no more. Anyone can tune the channel:
– “Tadaaa!” (opening music). “Hebdomada Papæ, notitiæ vaticanæ latine redditæ …”
“Today, there are no more Roman soldiers!” someone objects.
What do you mean?! The Pope’s Twitter account has about 1 million followers, while the less important languages, such as German or Portuguese, have only half that number of followers.
A few minutes ago, Francis tweeted in his Latin account: “Sancte Spiritus, fac nos opifices concordiae, seminatores boni, apostolos spei!” Holy Spirit, make us workers of harmony, sowers of good, apostles of hope!
Following his advice, I will not discuss whether there are still Roman soldiers out there. Maybe they are no soldiers, neither martyrs. Maybe it’s only a few million. But Latin is not measured by popularity.
The Church was born Catholic. Contrary to most religions, Christianity is not a national religion, belonging to a given civilization, confined to a given age. The cult promoted by Zarathustra vanished with the decline of the Persian civilization. The solar deities Amon, Ra, Ptah, failed to shine after the eclipse of the Egyptian civilization. The deities of the Olympus were reduced to archaeological statues when the Greek Pantheon was reduced to archeology. The Roman deities Apollo, Diana, Mercury, Venus, Mars … are names of planets or little else. Time wiped out the local cults of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America and the religions that survive in some areas have not yet undergone through a change of the political regime, in particular the test of democracy. Christianity, on the other hand, did not belong to the Roman Empire, nor was it characteristic of the Renaissance, or of the Enlightenment … nor is it distinctive of Italy, Europe, or the Western world. From the beginning, when the disciples were gathered round Our Lady in the room of the Cenacle, trembling with fear, the Church was already universal, because Jesus Christ founded it universal once and for all.
The universality of the Church does not gather together only Catholics of all conditions and origins. It embraces the multitudes that preceded us through the centuries and opens its arms to all those who will receive the testimony of Christ from our generation.
Today, maybe there are no more Roman soldiers, but Latin remains as a symbol of this universality without boundaries of space or time. Latin is a kind of sign language, an open smile that conveys the common bliss. Even for those who have not studied Latin, it is like hearing the voice of early Christians resounding, with growing sound, throughout the centuries. In Latin and in all languages, the voice of the Church is the voice of Christ, the same voice as ever, throughout the centuries.
I tune in to Vatican Radio. Latin broadcasters greet their listeners with warmly:
“Salutem plurimam omnibus vobis auscultantibus … et feliciter vobis audientibus novos nuntios Latina lingua prolatos.”
Greetings to you too! Good job!
Are there still Roman soldiers?
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