Vox SS. Pii PP. XI (12 Feb. 1931)

Vox SS. Pii PP. XI (12 Feb. 1931)

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The Founding of Vatican Radio
February 12, 1931

The Beginning of the Idea

To speak about the birth of Vatican Radio and the twelfth of February, 1931, is easy enough. However, it's more difficult to portray the ambience, the atmosphere, and the sense of excitment that permeated that momentous occasion.

Guglielmo Marconi, the great scientist who had for years been celebrated in the world's newspapers, approached the 12th of February with fear; in fact he was almost trembling as he realized the import of the endeavor he was about to undertake for the Supreme Pontiff. Upon the arrival of His Holiness Pope Pius XI, Mr. Marconi genuflected and humbly kissed the ring of the Successor of Peter. Pope Pius nodded paternally, smiled, and placed his hand on Marconi's shoulder in a manner which was almost an embrace. One could continue to explain the beginning moments of Vatican Radio in this manner, but the moment is better conveyed through the exact words of those present on that splendid day sixty-five years ago on the Vatican Hill.

On February 12, 1931, the Marquis Marconi spoke these historical words:

I have the highest honor of announcing that in only a matter of seconds the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Pius XI, will inaugurate the Radio Station of the Vatican City State. The electric radio waves will transport to all the world his words of peace and blessing.

This is how the world-renowned scientist Guglielmo Marconi announced the birth of Vatican Radio. He then continued:

With the help of Almighty God, who allows the many mysterious forces of nature to be used by man, I have been able to prepare this instrument which will accord to the Faithful of all the world the consolation of hearing the voice of the Holy Father. Most Holy Father, the work that Your Holiness has deigned to entrust to me, I, today return to You...may you deign, Holy Father, to allow the entire world to hear your august words.

A reporter at the time of this broadcast wrote, In this moment, the entire worlds awaits...The Vicar of Christ, through the means of this new ineffable instrument, and in a voice heard very clearly, begins to speak. It is exactly 4:49 p.m. on the Twelfth of February, Nineteen Thirty-One.

The rich text of the first radio message was written in Latin by Pius XI himself. The Pope imbued his message with passages from the Sacred Scriptures which emphasize the universality of the Gospel message. Pius XI concluded the first line of the discourse in this manner, Listen, O Heavens, to that which I say; listen, O Earth, listen to the words which come from my mouth...Listen and hear, O Peoples of distant lands! He continued, speaking in the voice of the Old Testament prophet, To the City and to the World! Now, we turn to the reporting of the event and to the story that preceeded it.

Pius XI, was born Achilles Ratti in 1857, at Desio near Milan. He ascended to the Pontificate on February 6, 1922. The theme of his pontificate could be condensed in the motto Pax Christi in regno Christi, that is, The Peace of Christ in the Reign of Christ. Close to the heart of this Pope was the evangelization of the Faith in mission lands. Also, he exhibited great openness and enthusiasm to the expansion of the field of scientific research. The evangelical motto, Let what I say be shouted from the rooftops -- what you hear in the darkness, speak it in the sunlight. The invention of radio finally actualized this passage from the Gospel. The conception, the plans, and the undertaking of a radio broadcasting station that would carry the voice of a Pope to a world-wide audience was the result of many years of research and planning.

Ago tibi gratias Deo per instrumenta de Chander Prakash:

Archival Voice Of Pope Pius XI From Vatican Record Co. (7K Subscribers Special)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oae5Hww5jxY

Performer: Pope Pius XI.

Digitized at 78 revolutions per minute. Four stylii were used to transfer this record. They are 3.8mil truncated conical, 2.3mil truncated conical, 2.8mil truncated conical, 3.3mil truncated conical. These were recorded flat and then also equalized with Turnover: 500.0.

Matrix number: 5X-2
Catalog number: None listed
License: Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)

Archival English Translation Of Pope Pius XI Voice From Vatican Record Co. (7K Subscribers Special)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zsMwt1bgkE

Performer: Father Chas. Mullaly S. J.
Writer: Pope Pius XI.

Digitized at 78 revolutions per minute. Four stylii were used to transfer this record. They are 3.8mil truncated conical, 2.3mil truncated conical, 2.8mil truncated conical, 3.3mil truncated conical. These were recorded flat and then also equalized with Turnover: 500.0.

Matrix number: 325-1
Catalog number: None listed
License
Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)

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