ONLY ONE Understood What the Pope Said! She Knew Latin.wmv

Her Latin-Study Paid off Big-- only one Journalist who understood what the Pope said

Giovanna Chirri is a journalist for the Italian news agency ANSA and was the one who brought the news of Pope Benedict XVI's departure, thanks to the old Latin knowledge.

What seemed to be a normal day at work ended with a world scoop for the experienced agency journalist.

To monitor the Pope when he speaks to his cardinals, shown on the video link on the Vatican press room, is not a task most journalists jump to. Only Giovanna Chirri and three others showed up.

The Pope was at the end of the ordinary speech, when he got handed a piece of paper by one of the cardinals and began to read aloud - in Latin.

Of the four journalists in the press room, there was only Chirri, thanks to her Latin, who perceived what he said. The others sat and waited for the session to be completed and a translation into English and Italian will be handed out.

Announced resignation

At one point, the Pope spoke about the College of Cardinals.

Chirri understood that he said he was tired, the pressure was too much - and that he would resign.

- He said the date of departure and then said that it happens to be a new conclave.

- One part of my head said, "you did not understand quite what he said," the other part said "hey, he said it," says the journalist.

Even cardinals that the Pope spoke to was unprepared for what was to come.

Chirri rushed out of the room, to get a confirmation of the Vatican spokesman, Cardinal Federico Lombardi but failed to catch him.

In a heated conversation with his editor, Chirri insisted that she was sure she had heard correctly and ANSA could go out with the news.

Right in the discussion called Cardinal Federico Lombardi back. He could confirm that the pope had just said that he would resign.

- Benedict XVI's Latin is very easy to understand, tweeted Giovanna Chirri back when colleagues congratulated her scoop.

- This is demonstrably an argument that future journalists need training in language and culture, chuckle Luigi Contu, Head of the Italian news agency AFP.