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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Communication inside Vatican	Clement	Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Question: I’m just wondering, what language do the people in Vatican use to communicate? Do they all use Latin to communicate with each other during their everyday conversation? If so, then popes like John Paul II (Polish) and Benedict (German) must be very proficient in Latin because its not their native langage. Also, when the Pope delivers his homily in St. Peter’s, is it in Latin as well? Thanks for answering my simple question.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Clement: I think Italian is the primary language spoken in Vatican City. Latin would be used from time to time, or at least spatterings of it when appropriate, and the native language of the Pope would also be spoken, I imagine, at least with his aides who are from the same country -- in this case Germany for Pope Benedict. Homilies are delivered in many languages depending on the situation and the audience -- Italian, French, English, German, etc. etc. Again, the default language I think is Italian. Official documents, however, are in Latin. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Communication inside Vatican

Clement

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Question:

I’m just wondering, what language do the people in Vatican use to communicate? Do they all use Latin to communicate with each other during their everyday conversation? If so, then popes like John Paul II (Polish) and Benedict (German) must be very proficient in Latin because its not their native langage.

Also, when the Pope delivers his homily in St. Peter’s, is it in Latin as well? Thanks for answering my simple question.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Clement:

I think Italian is the primary language spoken in Vatican City.

Latin would be used from time to time, or at least spatterings of it when appropriate, and the native language of the Pope would also be spoken, I imagine, at least with his aides who are from the same country -- in this case Germany for Pope Benedict.

Homilies are delivered in many languages depending on the situation and the audience -- Italian, French, English, German, etc. etc.

Again, the default language I think is Italian.

Official documents, however, are in Latin.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum