The EBU's large-scale operation in Rome and at the Vatican over the weekend successfully ensured that a global audience could watch Pope Benedict XVI beatify his much-loved predecessor, John Paul II. The EBU distributed the VACTV/ITRAI coproduction worldwide in both standard and high definition together with almost 6,000 minutes of unilateral transmission services to the 64 international broadcasters working on site, using 13 simultaneous channels routed via satellite and fibre infrastructures.

The Italian subsidiary of the EBU, Media House Eurovision Roma, managed broadcast facilities at four key sites to assist TV broadcasters covering the historic event thanks to the cooperation of the Holy See and the municipality of Rome. Vatican Radio, an EBU active Member, produced and provided the audio feed of the event to numerous broadcasters both through the satellite, web channels, ISDN lines and on site, making available, jointly with EBU Radio, facilities and technical assistance for the benefit of the radios convened in the Vatican.

This was possible thanks to the Media Centre that the Vatican (The Vatican City State; The Pontifical Council for Social Communications; Vatican Radio; Vatican Television Centre) organized, entrusting the EBU with the management of the TV and radio workspaces for distributing live coverage to correspondents covering the event. Two purpose-built multi-storey platforms offering studio and stand-up positions were fully booked. One faced St Peter's Square, the second was located in Piazza Pia at the bottom of the Via della Conciliazione offering an unparalleled view of the crowds on the avenue leading to St Peter's Basilica. The Rome bureau, just a few metres away from St Peter's Square, housed the main MCR for the operation and also provided live facilities from its terrace, offering a magnificent view of Michelangelo's cupola. Eurovision also organized production and transmission facilities at the Circus Maximus for the evening prayer vigil on 30 April.

Elena Pinardi, News bureau chief of the Rome subsidiary, who has managed the operation in coordination with the Geneva-based EBU News staff, explained, “Setting up such a complex operation with the security challenges posed by the massive 1.5 million crowd was challenging, but thanks to the tireless efforts of the news operation team and everyone involved in setting up the media structures, we successfully overcame a more than 24-hour delay in production plans in the platform build. In a race against time, and with everyone working throughout the night, we managed to ensure everything was ready the day ahead of the beatification ceremony.”

Paolo Pusterla, MHER Managing Director, praised the staff in Rome and in Geneva, “MHER, the EBU's subsidiary in Italy in charge of maintaining and developing relationships with key institutions in the Italian region, leveraged the EBU's long-standing partnership with the Vatican and its media arm. The success of the Jean Paul II beatification news coverage is a result of a unique and close relationship that makes the EBU and its MHER facilities recognized as the main partner for video broadcast productions for all Vatican events. The reach of the Eurovision network worldwide and the ability of EBU staff to manage major operations with thousands of accredited journalists remain universally recognized key assets for providing broadcasters with credible and reliable network services in conjunction with such globally significant events.”