Rome Diary of Richard John Neuhaus

Reports from Rome

...I am here in Rome to co-host with Raymond Arroya the daily broadcasts of EWTN, the international television network founded by the formidable Mother Angelica whose biography Raymond has just completed. (It is a remarkable story and should be out from Doubleday this fall.) My agreement with EWTN is not exclusive, so I am working also with other print and broadcast media.

George Weigel, author of the definitive biography of John Paul, Witness to Hope, is here under exclusive contract with NBC and is largely responsible for that network's generally excellent coverage. Rome in my experience is endless conversations over lunch and dinner, mainly with media types and with friends and acquaintances in the worlds within worlds of the universal Church variously connected to the nerve center that is the eternal city. The plan is to stay here through the conclave which begins April 18 and is expected to produce a new pope within two to four days. We may stay through the installation a few days later. EWTN is broadcasting from a jerry-built booth atop the North American College with a magnificent view overlooking St. Peter's. Other networks had to be satisfied with the roof of the Urbano, an institute for mission churches, next door.