MESSAGE
OF THE HOLY FATHER
FOR THE XXIII WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
OF THE HOLY FATHER
FOR THE XXIII WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
Theme: Religion in the Mass Media
Brothers and sisters,
my dear friends the communicators,
1. The theme of the World Day of Social Communications this year, "Religion in the Media", underlines the special importance of the Church's presence and of the part it plays in public dialogue. In our days, in fact, religious messages, as well as cultural messages, gain an increased impact from the intervention of the social communications media. The reflection which I would like to share with you on this occasion will illustrate a concern that has been constantly with me throughout my pontificate: what place can religion have in the life of society and, more exactly, what place can religion have in the media?
2. In the course of its pastoral activity, the Church naturally asks itself questions regarding the media's attitude to "religion". The fact is that at the very time the media and the techniques of communication are enjoying such developments, the industrial world which has assisted their extraordinary growth itself shows a "secularism" which is apparently bent on hastening the disappearance of any sense of religion among the people of our day.
