Pope Francis asks to protect communication for the good of others

Vatican City.- In a message to the members of the Catholic Press Association, who are holding the Catholic Media Conference, from June 30 to July 2, 2020, Pope Francis expressed that "the experience of these past months It has shown us that the mission of the media is essential to bring people closer, close the gap, provide the necessary information and open minds and hearts to the truth. ”
The Conference, which is being held virtually for the first time due to the world's health emergency, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, addresses the issue Together While Apart.

In his message, Pope Francis commented that the theme of the conference "eloquently expresses the sense of unity that, paradoxically, has arisen from the experience of social distancing imposed by the pandemic."

The media must protect communication, never distort it

The Pope has given a clear definition of how the media should be and behave today: "We need means of communication capable of building bridges, defending life and knocking down walls, visible and invisible, that prevent sincere dialogue and true communication between people and communities ”. But media are also needed - he said - “that can help people, especially young people, to distinguish good from bad; to develop sound judgments based on a clear and impartial presentation of the facts; and to understand the importance of working for justice, social harmony and respect for our common home. ” And to this, he has added another need: "we need men and women with solid values that protect communication from everything that can distort or divert it to other purposes."

He also invited “to be united” and to be “a sign of unity” between them and remember that no matter the size of the media, what matters is “being members of the same body”: “As in any body, often it is the smallest members that, in the end, are the most necessary. The same thing happens in the body of Christ. Each one of us, wherever we are, is called to contribute, through the profession of truth in love, to the growth of the Church to its full maturity in Christ. ”

A good communicator is dedicated to the good of others at all levels.

Furthermore - he says - “communication is not merely a matter of professional competence” and highlights what the characteristics of a good communicator should be: “a true communicator is completely dedicated to the good of others at all levels, from life from each person to the life of the entire human family. We cannot truly communicate if we do not get personally involved, if we cannot personally witness the truth of the message we transmit. ”

Francisco has also evoked about the workers of the Association "the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit of wisdom, understanding and advice" because as he has explained: "only the gaze of the Spirit allows us not to close our eyes to those who suffer and seek true good for all. Only with that gaze can we work effectively to overcome the diseases of racism, injustice and indifference, which disfigure the face of our common family. ”

Christian communicators must claim the truth

At the end of his message, he highlights his final wish, so that the members of the Catholic Press Association, through their dedication and daily work, “can help others to contemplate situations and people with the eyes of the Spirit, to When our world speaks hastily with adjectives and adverbs, Christian communicators speak with nouns that recognize and present the silent claim to the truth and promote human dignity and where the world sees conflict and divisions, you can look at the poor and those who suffer, and give voice to the pleas of our brothers and sisters in need of mercy and understanding. "

Article published in SIGNIS ALC

Source: Vatican News