New translation receives holy seal of approval
A new translation of “Osservatore Romano” has received the personal approval from no less a personage than Pope Benedict XVI himself. The translation into the Malayalam language, which is the primary language used in the State of Kerala in Southern India, is “highly significant” according to the Pope as it will “deepen the faith of those Catholics who read the publication” in Kerala and neighbouring Goa and is anticipated to reach over 6 million Catholics.
Kerala together with its neighbouring State of Goa are strongholds of the Catholic faith in India; the introduction of which dates back to the Portuguese invasion and colonisation of the areas from as early as the 16th century. Perhaps surprisingly, the Portuguese did not actually leave India until 1961 a good 14 years after India gained its independence from Great Britain; in point of fact, the Portuguese held territories were annexed by the Indian Army at that time and Portuguese troops occupying those territories surrendered without major conflict.
The Osservatore Romano, or Roman Observer in English, is the “semi-official” newspaper of the Holy See. The Osservatore gives details of all of The Pope’s public activities, publishes articles and commentaries by prominent Churchmen and publishes official Church Releases.
I guess that if a translation is going to get an endorsement, you can’t get any better than the “Holy Father”.