Longtime Vatican media spokesperson Joaquin Navarro-Valls will retire and be succeeded by the current head of Vatican radio and television

Longtime Vatican media spokesperson Joaquin Navarro-Valls will retire and be succeeded by the current head of Vatican radio and television. The appointment of Federieo Loinbardi, 63, to head the Holy See Press Office partially consolidates the Vatican's media operations, since Lombardi will retain his position at the helm of the Holy See's radio and television outlets.

The move in July ends the 22-year tenure of Navarro-Valls, 69, a Spanish journalist who is credited with overhauling the Vatican's press operations.

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