SIRIUS Radio to provide extensive coverage of Benedict's USA visit

NEW YORK – March 26, 2008 – SIRIUS Satellite Radio announced today that, as part of its extensive coverage of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit to the United States (April 15-20, 2008), it will launch the Papal Archives Channel, featuring seldom heard Papal recordings from the past, including the earliest known audio of a Pope.

The Papal Archives Channel will air Monday, April 14 through Sunday, April 20 exclusively on SIRIUS channel 119, showcasing rare archival recordings of Masses and speeches from historic Papal Visits – which will include Pope John Paul II’s visits to the U.S. in 1979, 1987 and 1995 and Pope Paul VI’s visit to the U.S. in 1965. SIRIUS listeners will also hear the earliest known audio of a Pope’s voice, an extremely rare recording of Pope Leo XIII, the Holy Father from 1878-1903, singing Ave Maria at the Vatican circa 1902.

The Papal Archives Channel will be one of three SIRIUS channels dedicated to Papal coverage when Pope Benedict XVI makes his historic visit to the U.S. from April 15 – 20 and is a production of SIRIUS’ The Catholic Channel, SIRIUS 159, which is the flagship station for coverage of the first visit to the U.S. by a Pope since 1999, broadcasting all the major Papal events and hourly updates with the latest news and information on the Pope’s activities during his visit. Additionally, Papal Playback, SIRIUS 143, will offer re-broadcasts of key moments and events from Pope Benedict’s current trip, allowing listeners multiple chances to hear his Masses and public addresses.

For more information, visit http://www.sirius.com/thecatholicchannel