Pope to journalists: truth and respect for human
dignity
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
on Thursday met with the Italian National Council of the Order of Journalists,
telling them that truth, professionalism and respect for human dignity were
essential elements in their work.
Meeting with the assembled
Italian journalists in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall on Thursday, Pope Francis
told them that there were few professions that have “so much influence on
society like that of journalism.” He noted that they are usually the ones who
are there to record what he called, the "first draft of history”,
“the building of the news agenda and introducing people to the interpretation
of events.”
He also noted that the
journalistic profession was one that was continually adapting to changes in the
way people digest news through new forms of media.
In his discourse the Pope
stressed three essential elements in the work of a journalist, that he said,
could serve to “improve the society in which we live”: To love the truth, to
embody professionalism and to respect human dignity.
Truth
He said that loving the truth
meant not only stating it, but living it and bearing witness to it in
their work, adding, even in journalism we must be able to discern between shades
of grey surrounding the events that we are called to tell.”
Speaking about the second
element, professionalism, Pope Francis underlined that when there was
professionalism, journalists remained “a cornerstone, a fundamental element for
the vitality of a free and pluralistic society.”
Respecting human dignity
On the subject of human
dignity, the Pope stressed the importance of responsible journalism and he
reiterated earlier comments he made about rumours being a form of
"terrorism", and how you can kill a person with language. The
Holy Father went on to say that “journalism cannot become a '' weapon of
destruction "of people and even nations.” Criticism, is legitimate, he
added, “as well as the denunciation of evil, but this must always be done
respecting the other, his life, his affections”.
Holy See communications
Pope Francis during his
discourse also commented on the changing communication’s environment of the
Holy See. He said that it was experiencing a renewal process from which
journalists should benefit, adding “the Secretariat for Communication will be
the natural point of reference for your valuable work.”
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