Holy See Internet Site Presented Today

VATICAN CITY, MAR 24, 1997 (VIS) - At 11:30 this morning, in the Holy See Press Office the new Internet site of the Holy See was presented. The full site (http://www.vatican.va/) will open on Easter Sunday, March 30.

Participants included: Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), president of the Internet Commission of the Holy See; Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Holy See Press Office director, secretary of the Internet Commission; Sr. Judith Zoebelein, F.S.E., APSA official and member of the Internet Commission; Alberto Fresco, managing director of Digital Equipment, S.p.A., Italian associate of the Digital Equipment Corporation.

Alberto Fresco explained the more technical aspects to the journalists, after which Sr. Judith Zoebelein explained the contents of the site and gave a demonstration, using a computer and large screen. She said that the contents of the Vatican site are currently available in six languages (German, French, English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese), adding that there are future plans to include Arabic and Chinese.

Sr. Zoebelein, in her demonstration, showed the sub-sites available: The Holy Father, The Roman Curia, News Service, Museums, Jubilee 2000 and Archives. The News Service includes the press office, VIS (Vatican Information Service), L'Osservatore Romano newspaper and Vatican Radio.

Navarro-Valls explained that the three computers involved are "Raphael," which has the content of the Vatican Internet site; "Michael," which protects and acts as back up and "Gabriel," the "messenger" and e-mail correspondence site.

OP/HOLY SEE:INTERNET/CELLI:NAVARRO-VALLS VIS 970324 (120)