On the occasion of the Urbi et Orbi blessing on 25 December, in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, Vatican Media will integrate a special experiment for worldwide live broadcast using Sony’s new HDC-F5500V 4K system camera equipped with a Super 35 sensor, an innovative solution that allows for a ‘cinematic’ image even in live contexts.

The initiative, conducted during one of the most watched celebrations of the year, aims to explore new visual languages capable of combining cinema quality with the technical requirements of global broadcasting. Thanks to the Super 35 sensor and advanced colour and depth of field management, the HDC-F5500V allows for more immersive storytelling, enhancing the emotional dimension of the event.

This initiative continues the long-standing collaboration between the Dicastery for Communication and Sony Europe, a relationship that over the years has fostered the progressive introduction of cutting-edge technologies in the service of the Holy See’s communication. The project is geared towards promoting innovation and quality, while ensuring that the Pope’s message remains accessible to audiences around the world.

The experiment will be integrated into the official broadcast in a harmonious manner, using an existing system of high-profile HDC-5500V cameras, without altering the structure of international production, but helping to outline new perspectives for future papal live broadcasts and enriching the collection of content for the Vatican audiovisual archive.

Engineer Francesco Masci, Director of Technology for the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, stated, “In line with our mission, the Dicastery for Communication continues to invest in research and collaboration with leading technology partners such as Sony, so that the visual narrative of the Holy See’s events increasingly reflects the depth of the message we uphold.”

He concludes, “As St Augustine reminds us, “truth is like a ray of light that illuminates everything”: even technologies, when placed at the service of the person and beauty, can become tools that help to make visible what inspires, unites and uplifts the spirit. Our experimentation in the field of cinema goes precisely in this direction: to explore, with prudence and creativity, new languages that can support the mission of the Church and reach the hearts of people in every part of the world.”

Benito Manlio Mari, Senior Sales Manager, Regional Sales South, Sony Italy, commented: “The collaboration with the Dicastery for Communication represents extraordinary added value for Sony Europe, as it allows us to continuously refine the performance requirements of our solutions, putting our technology to the test in one of the most significant live production contexts in the world.”