IN A move that would seem to indicate the Holy See’s serious concern about the recent so-called “Vatileaks” crisis, the secretariat of state announced on Saturday it would be appointing 52-year-old US reporter Greg Burke, the Fox News correspondent in Rome and Opus Dei member, as “senior adviser on communications”.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Burke, whose family origins trace to Limerick, said his role would be more that of strategy adviser than of spokesman, adding: “This is a new position, it’s uncharted waters, it’s very exciting . . . My office will be in the secretary of state and my role is linked to strategy . . . to shape the message and try to make sure that everybody is on message . . .
“I don’t have power but I will be sitting around the table with a lot of people who do have power and I will be trying to convince them of some things, like saying to them, this will play well, this won’t . . . I hope to help the Vatican move in the right direction . . .
“I will not be running a parallel press office. Fr Lombardi is the main spokesman. I hope I can be a help to him.”