Pope Francis to Catholic Media:
Be signs of unity amid diversity
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| Pope Francis during an in-flight press conference (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis sends a message to this year's Catholic Media
Conference, which is sponsored by the Catholic Press Association and has as its
theme “Together While Apart”. In the message, the Pope stresses the need for
men and women of conviction “who protect communication from all that would
distort it or bend it to other purposes.”
By Vatican News
The Catholic Press Association (CPA) was founded over one
hundred years ago in the United States with the aim of “serving and uniting”
it’s members. It has nearly 225 publication members and 600 individual members
in the association.
But this year, for the first time in its long history, the
association will be holding a virtual Catholic Media Conference, due to the
Coronavirus pandemic.
With the pandemic in mind, Pope Francis began his message to
the conference by expressing his closeness “to those who have been affected by
the virus and to those who, even at the risk of their lives, have worked and
continue to work in assisting our brothers and sisters in need.”
A timely theme
The theme chosen for this virtual event is “Together While
Apart.” The Pope noted how this theme “eloquently expresses the sense of
togetherness that emerged, paradoxically, from the experience of social
distancing imposed by the pandemic.”
Pope Francis also underlined how “the experience of these
past months has shown how essential is the mission of the communications media
for bringing people together, shortening distances, providing necessary
information, and opening minds and hearts to truth.”
"E pluribus unum – the ideal of unity amid
diversity, reflected in the motto of the United States", noted the
Pope, "must also inspire the service you offer to the common
good. How urgently is this needed today, in an age marked by conflicts
and polarization from which the Catholic community itself is not
immune."
"We need media capable of building bridges, defending
life and breaking down the walls, visible and invisible, that prevent sincere
dialogue and truthful communication between individuals and communities, he
said.”
“We need media", he continued, “that can help people,
especially the young, to distinguish good from evil, to develop sound judgments
based on a clear and unbiased presentation of the facts, and to understand the
importance of working for justice, social concord and respect for our common
home.” The Pope also stressed the need for men and women of conviction “who
protect communication from all that would distort it or bend it to other
purposes.”
As Christians, he emphasized, “each of us, wherever we find
ourselves, is called to contribute, through our profession of truth in love, to
the Church’s growth to full maturity in Christ.”
“Communication, we know, is not merely a matter of
professional competence”, said the Pope.
Being a true communicator
“A true communicator”, he went on to say, “dedicates
himself or herself completely to the welfare of the others, at every level,
from the life of each individual to the life of the entire human family.”
Pope Francis pointed out that, “we cannot truly communicate
unless we become personally involved, unless we can personally attest to the
truth of the message we convey.” All communication, he said, “has its
ultimate source in the life of the triune God, who shares with us the richness
of His divine life and calls us, in turn, to communicate that treasure to others
by our unity in the service of His truth.”
Gaze of the Holy Spirit
Invoking an outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s gifts of wisdom,
understanding and good counsel on their work, the Pope noted that “only the
gaze of the Spirit allows us not to close our eyes to those who suffer and to
seek the true good of all. Only with that gaze can we effectively work to
overcome the diseases of racism, injustice and indifference that disfigure the
face of our common family.”
Speak with nouns not adjectives
Concluding his message to the conference, Pope Francis urged
Christian communicators to “speak with nouns that acknowledge and advance the
quiet claims of truth and promote human dignity,” in a world that all too
readily “speaks with adjectives and adverbs.”
“Where the world sees conflicts and divisions, may you look
to the suffering and the poor, and give voice to the plea of our brothers and
sisters in need of mercy and understanding”, he said.
Among the keynote speakers at this year’s Catholic Media
Conference will be Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for
Communication. The virtual gathering runs from the 30 June to 2 July.
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