VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - The official announcement from the Vatican was typically short and low key, "The American journalist Gregory Burke, who is currently Rome correspondent for Fox News, will shortly take up the post of "communications advisor" to the Secretariat of State, according to an announcement made by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J."

"This new figure will have the task of dealing with communications issues in the work of the Secretariat of State, and will oversee relations with the Holy See Press Office and other media institutions of the Holy See".

However, the implications are significant and quite hopeful at a vitally important time. Greg Burke's reputation as a top notch journalist is known far and wide. His Catholic faith is solid as a rock.

He spent over twenty years in Rome and has proven, no matter which media post he filled, that he can be counted on for accuracy and reliability. He had experience with Time magazine, the National Catholic Register and, most recently, the Fox News Network.

Burke is a 52 year old graduate of Columbia University's School of Journalism. Some secular news sources such as the Huffington Post  sought to make much of the association Burke has with Opus Dei, the Work of God, an ecclesial movement founded by Saint JoseMaria Escriva.

It is a positive in this editors opinion.

Not only because his status as a "supernumerary", a lay member of Opus Dei, assures his fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church he will be reporting on but because Opus Dei focuses on communication as the core of the very mission of the Church.

The spirituality and formation of Opus Dei helps its members to view the world positively, not fearing the culture but understanding the mission of the Church as bringing leaven and light for all men and women. Burke has lawys been very open about his membership in the ecclesial movement. His joy and naturally supernatural manner would make St Escriva quite proud.

In interview with the Catholic News Agency on Sunday June 24, 2012, Burke was quite candid about his new assignment saying "It's an incredible challenge. I didn't want to leave the job at Fox, which has been a wonderful gig. But I think if I didn't take it, I would always be wondering if I could have made a difference. I guess now I'll get to find out."

Burke will fill a newly formed position which the Vatican truly needs, as demonstrated by some difficulties in the last year including what the Press labeled "Vati-leaks". He will coordinate communication between the Holy See Press Office,the Secretary of State and other Vatican agencies charged with communicating on behalf of the Holy See.

The Church - and the world into which she is sent to continue the communicative mission of the Risen Lord-  will be greatly served by this excellent appointment of Greg Burke to this vital position.