David Willey, esteemed BBC foreign correspondent, dies aged 93
David Willey, a BBC foreign correspondent for over half a century who was best known as its Vatican correspondent covering five popes, has died at 93. He also reported on the Treaty of Rome and the Vietnam War.
David Willey, who served as a BBC foreign correspondent for more than 50 years, has died at the age of 93. He reported from Algeria, Vietnam, and China, but earned his greatest recognition as the BBC's Vatican correspondent in Rome, where he covered the papacies of five popes.
Widely regarded as one of the most experienced journalistic voices on the Vatican, Willey authored a book on Pope Francis and was awarded an OBE for services to broadcast journalism.
He began his career as a trainee with the Reuters news agency and in 1957 covered the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community, the forerunner of the European Union. "I was actually there in the huge room frescoed with scenes from ancient Roman battles, when the six frock-coated founders of the Europe of the Six appended their signatures to the Treaty," he wrote on the 50th anniversary in 2007.
After freelancing in Algeria, Willey became the BBC's East Africa correspondent in 1964. He later reported from Asia, including on the Vietnam War and post-revolution China. But he will be best remembered for his decades of work in Rome, covering five popes. One of his most notable assignments was the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981. Last year, he met his fifth pope, the newly elected Pope Leo.
Even in his nineties, Willey continued working. Following Pope Francis' death last year, he reflected on how the Vatican had changed under the late pontiff.
"He was an incredible authority on the Vatican, reporting and travelling with five Popes, and was so kind, giving me insight and encouragement when I started in Rome in 2019," wrote Mark Lowen, BBC correspondent and presenter.
