CNS PHOTO | PAUL HARING Fr. Thomas Rosica, CEO of Salt and Light Media Foundation, handled the English-language press briefings for the Vatican during the papal transition.

Basilian Father Thomas Rosica is a busy man these days.

The founder and CEO of Salt and Light Television based in Toronto, has been assisting the English-speaking media at the Vatican Press office during the papal transition.

That means he provides English translations during news briefings led by Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman and head of the press office.

He also fields hundreds of questions from reporters each day and gives numerous interviews on radio, television and print explaining various aspects of the conclave.

The priest, who is used to being on the other side of the camera, said the transition has not been difficult.

As he sees it, “The fundamental principle is always respect the person, whether you are asking or answering.”

He also views it as privilege to serve the Church in this way and called it “an incredible experience” of “dealing with the world Church.”

When asked why his translations of Lombardi’s explanations to reporters are often shorter and more concise than what reporters heard in Italian, Rosica said he does not always give an exact translation because the Vatican spokesman “likes to give long answers that the Italian media appreciate very much.”