Pope Francis queries Vatican media’s ability to reach an audience

Pontiff raises concerns expensive operation not communicating the faith as well as it should

Pope Francis has challenged Vatican media employees to justify their continued work, asking them how many people actually consume their news in a critique of the office that costs the Holy See more than all its embassies around the world combined.

Francis visited the Dicastery for Communication, Vatican Radio and the headquarters of the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, which is marking its 160th anniversary. He appeared to use the occasion to lay down the gauntlet at a fraught financial time for the Holy See.