Vatican City goes cinematic with Sony’s Super 35 technology

On 25 December 2025, Vatican Media will integrate a special experiment for worldwide live broadcast. Using Sony’s new HDC-F5500V 4K system camera equipped with a Super 35 sensor, the technology will deliver a ‘cinematic’ image to viewers. This world first will cover the Urbi et Orbi blessing, the Pope’s traditional Christmas address to audiences around the world, from St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

The initiative aims to explore new visual languages capable of combining cinema-quality with the technical requirements of global broadcasting. Thanks to the Super 35 sensor and advanced colour and depth of field management, the HDC-F5500V allows for more immersive storytelling, enhancing the emotional dimension of the event.

This initiative continues the long-standing collaboration between the Dicastery for Communication and Sony Europe; a partnership responsible for capturing the historic announcement of the new Pope Leo XIV in 4K. The current project is geared towards promoting innovation and quality, while ensuring that the Pope’s message remains accessible to audiences around the world.

“The collaboration with the Dicastery for Communication represents extraordinary added value for Sony Europe, as it allows us to continuously refine the performance requirements of our solutions, putting our technology to the test in one of the most significant live production contexts in the world,” concludes Benito Manlio Mari, a senior sales manager at Sony Italy.

Find out more at sony.co.uk