Fr. Thomas Rosica named consultor to Pontifical Social Communications Council

Vatican City, Feb 26, 2009 / 15:14 pm

This morning Fr. Thomas Rosica CSB was appointed as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Speaking to CNA, the priest said that he sees this as the Pope entrusting a special responsibility to the Church in Canada.

"It is a privilege to serve the Universal Church through the important work of the Council for Social Communications,” said Fr. Rosica in an email to CNA.  

Citing the mishaps the Church has experienced in its communications over the past month, Fr. Rosica said that communicating poses “great challenges” and has great potential for good.

“This appointment,” he commented, “is a tribute to and responsibility given to the Church in Canada, to all of the young adults working with me at Canada's first national, Catholic Television Network, and to those generous benefactors who have made this project of the New Evangelization possible in Canada.  I am grateful to Pope Benedict XVI and to those at the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in Rome for their encouragement, trust and confidence."

Fr. Thomas Rosica, is the CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network, a network that was born out of World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada.

Born in 1959, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.  He holds dual citizenship in the USA and Canada.  Fr. Rosica is a Scripture scholar and has served on the General Council of the Congregation of Priests of St. Basil since July, 2006. 

Fr. Rosica has also been involved with numerous Vatican activities, including serving as the National Director and C.E.O. of World Youth Day 2002 and the Papal Visit to Canada.  In October 2008, he served as the English Language Media Attaché of the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican.