Pope emphasizes importance of
truth in journalism
In a message to Italian news agency SIR, Pope Francis calls
on reporters to always speak the truth.
By John Waters
Pope Francis has sent a message to the Italian news agency
SIR (Servizio Informazione Relgiosa/Religious Information Service) in time for
the thirtieth anniversary of its publication. The agency was founded in order
to help better communicate information relating to both religious and world
affairs to the Italian Catholic Church.
"Continue your work"
In his address the Pope began by reminding the workers of
SIR that “Thirty years is a long time, but it is not the end of the line.
Therefore, continue your work with the same novelty with which your founding
fathers have thought, and thereby brought about a unique project, an instrument
for information to connect the Italian territories with each other and their
Diocese’s.” The Pope went on to note that the agency is an instrument of socio-cultural
communion between Italian Catholics.
Committed to truth and impartiality
Pope Francis praised the vision of the first president of
SIR, Mons Giusseppe Cacciami, who hoped that the agency would be judged for its
commitment to truth and impartiality when reporting. The Pope suggested that
Mons Cacciami’s wishes are particularly important today, as the world witnesses
the rise of “Fake news.” He therefore exhorted the journalists of SIR to
“Continue to practice your profession, always tending towards the truth, for
that is the best antidote and most effective way to combat falsity.”
A voice for those who have no voice
Towards the end of the message Pope Francis asked that
journalists become a voice for someone who has no voice themselves. The Pope promised
to accompany those journalists as they take on this work, saying that he will
always be willing to listen to them and to build bridges within the communities
in which they work.
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