NO events in the history of the Church have been so thoroughly a n d speedily covered by so many media its the sequence of the past few weeks from the death of Pope Pius Xll to the election and coronation of Pope John XXIII.
Some 735 correspondents and photographers from many lands and speaking many languages were accredited to the Vatican last week for the coronation ceremonies alone.
Some 435 press seats were allocated in St. Peter's; 300 special permits were issued for photographers while countless others reported the ceremonies in their offices, from telephoned Vatican Radio and Television reports.
Italian television authorities directed the European link-up giving service to HI million televiewers in 14 countries.
Americans were able to see the Mass and coronation on their screens within hours. The films were taken to the U.S. by jet planes and processed in flight.
Two and a half miles of cables were laid in St, Peter's to connect the battery of floodlighting 114f1. above the floor; one and three quarter miles of cables connected four TV cameras to five transmitter vans outside St. Peter's; 200 NV technicians, three commentators, eight national representatives and five priest advisors all helped to produce this historic programme.
The B.B.C.'s sound and television programmes on the ceremonies of the past few weeks numbered more than 70. Fr. Agnellus Andrew, Fr. Patrick McEnroe and Richard Dimbleby, Henry Riddell and Donald Milner reported both the funeral of Pope Pius and the coronation of Pope John.