SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (CISA) – Pope Francis has honoured journalist Janeth Mhella of Vatican Radio’s Africa Service with the “Cross of Honour,” medal and certificate for serving the Pope and the Church diligently in her work at the radio on Thursday September 29.
According to the Vatican radio news, this is Pope Francis’ highest awards established by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 for deserving clergy or lay persons and is given for services done for the Church and its head.
Janeth became the first African at Vatican Radio ever to receive this award. Mhella, simply known to her colleagues as Mama Mhella worked for the Radio for more than twenty three years. She presents in Swahili language and is to retire at the end of October.
The Vatican Radio News reports that the medal and certificate were presented to Mhella by the Monsignor Dario Viganò, the Prefect of the Secretariat for Communication of the Holy See alongside five other persons from the new dicastery, the Secretariat for Communication also honoured.
The Director of Programmes at Vatican Radio, Fr. Andrea Majewski, SJ, read the citation before Monsignor Viganò handed over the medal and certificate saying that over the years Janeth had worked closely with various persons that have passed through the department.
“Today she can truly be considered one of the founders of the Kiswahili Service at Vatican Radio,” said Fr. Majewski as he read the citation.
The Kiswahili Service of Vatican Radio produces a half-hour programme on the daily activities of the Pope, the Holy See and the Church in Africa.
