Papal photographic album

Now you can watch as many photos of the Popes as you might wish to watch. The only limitation is that you can only go back to 1930. The best and most historic photos are not available literally at one's fingertips now that the digital photo archive of...

Now you can watch as many photos of the Popes as you might wish to watch. The only limitation is that you can only go back to 1930. The best and most historic photos are not available literally at one's fingertips now that the digital photo archive of L'Osservatore Romano has been put online.

The large-scale initiative now gives both professionals and private individuals access to thousands of photographs of the Pope and the Holy See via the Internet. Giuseppe Colombara, director of the photographic service of the Vatican paper, was more than correct to describe the initiative as an important endeavour of historical reconstruction which called for huge research commitment.

The archive also includes the "Wojtyla Fund," some 1,000 images of Pope John Paul II from his childhood, youth and pastoral ministry prior to his election as Pope.

We visited the Website www.photo.va/index.php?f=1&lan=eng which can be accessed in English and Italian and we found it very user-friendly. Besides, the content is most interesting. It is also being updated by the hour.

On choosing the section dedicated to Benedict XVI, photographs of his pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello was available very soon after it was taken.

The site has a financial dimension and those who would want a copy of their favourite photos will have to pay for them. Nothing wrong, since there are no free lunches any more, anywhere.

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