Father Dermod McCarthy, editor of religious television programmes at RTE, has been appointed a consultor to the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He will hold the position for five years.
The council advises the Pope on communicating the church's message and on policy concerning the media and evangelisation.
Father McCarthy, who was last year presented with a life achievement award by the Irish Churches' Council for Television and Radio Affairs, has been involved with religious broadcasting since he joined the Radharc team in RTE as a clerical student in 1965.