John Thavis of CNS looks at the change in leadership in the Vatican news offices:

Father Lombardi professed admiration for his predecessor’s work, but journalists immediately noticed a difference in the air. One telltale sign was that the first Vatican communique issued under Father Lombardi did not mention his own name. Under Navarro-Valls, these statements, although drafted in the office of the Vatican secretary of state, were released as if they were direct declarations of the papal spokesman.

Father Lombardi said Pope Benedict did not give him precise instructions on how to run the press office, but his self-effacing style seems a perfect match with the pope’s own low-key approach.

Trained in mathematics and a one-time student of theology in Germany, the 64-year-old Jesuit speaks French, German and passable English, in addition to his native Italian, and can read and understand Spanish and Portuguese. His linguistic skills were important over the last 16 years as program director, then general director, of Vatican Radio.

Because he remains director of Vatican Radio and of the Vatican television station, CTV, Father Lombardi’s workday is an exercise in musical chairs. He begins his morning at Vatican Radio’s headquarters, then spends several hours at the press office, heads to CTV in the early afternoon, and in the late afternoon returns to the radio, where he works until about 9 p.m.

He said he reads the Vatican’s daily packet of press clippings in rapid fashion — perhaps too rapidly, he added, saying he may have to devote more attention to that task. Given his schedule, he has little time for browsing the Internet during the day.

Father Lombardi well understands that journalistic and Vatican priorities are not always a perfect match. On a recent morning, for example, the pressing question from reporters was whether the pope’s new red hat was made of felt or straw.

Priorities, man – priorities!!