Who is Pope spokesman Matteo Bruni?

No one is currently more the face and voice of the Vatican: papal spokesman Matteo Bruni connects the seriously ill head of the Church in hospital with journalists from all over the world. Surrounded by media people standing, sitting and crouching, he reports twice a day - in the morning and in the evening - in the Vatican press centre on the latest developments in the 88-year-old Pope's treatment.

In 2019, Bruni took over as head of the press office. His most high-profile appearance in front of the world press to date was at the official announcement of the death of German Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on New Year's Eve 2022. Now he is once again at the centre of the media spotlight - balancing his communication between the public interest and the Pope's private life.

Sunny boy of the Vatican

His charm and humour help him to do this. In the Vatican, where older to elderly men are in charge, the 48-year-old stands out with his sunny-boy qualities - even though the blonde hair over his light blue eyes has now given way to a light grey. Usually with a smile on his face, he answers the same questions from media representatives with great concentration - within the narrow framework that the Vatican has probably given him: No lies, but only a few details.

Bruni has been used to dealing with journalists for many years. He began his career in the papal press office in 2009, handling requests for access to Vatican communications and papal events. Four years later, he took over the logistical organisation and accompaniment of media representatives on the Pope's trips abroad. For the extraordinary "Holy Year" in 2016, he coordinated the participation of the press in the various pilgrimage events in Rome. Almost six years ago, he then became the spokesperson for the Pope, who is all too happy to speak for himself.

Bruni already had international experience before joining the Vatican. He was born in Winchester in the south of England to an Italian father and an Australian mother with Dutch roots. He began his school career in London and spent periods of his life in the USA and Australia. He studied modern and contemporary foreign languages and literature in Rome and speaks English, Spanish and French as well as Italian. The husband and father of a daughter is close to the Catholic social organisation Sant'Egidio, which is highly trusted by Pope Francis - presumably not a disadvantage in his appointment as press officer.

Buffer between the Curia and the press

Bruni acts as a kind of buffer between the interests of the world church administration and the media. In this role, he has more than once had to iron out linguistic slip-ups by Pope Francis - sometimes immediately after the usual press conferences on return flights from papal trips, sometimes days after a scandal and high public pressure.

As the Pope's mouthpiece, he also issues statements on various occasions outside of the regular communication for which he is also responsible. Bruni regularly provides information on the current hospitalisation of the head of the Church via email, the Telegram messaging service and in person - surrounded by dozens of journalists and as the voice and face of the Vatican. The Pope, who loves to communicate, is currently unable to do this himself.