MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II
FOR THE 37th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
FOR THE 37th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
"The Communications Media at the Service
of Authentic Peace in the Light of 'Pacem in Terris'"
of Authentic Peace in the Light of 'Pacem in Terris'"
[Sunday, 1 June 2003}
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. In the dark days of the Cold War, Blessed Pope John XXIII's Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terriscame as a beacon of hope to men and women of good will. Declaring that authentic peace requires "diligent observance of the divinely established order" (Pacem in Terris, 1), the Holy Father pointed to truth, justice, charity and freedom as the pillars of a peaceful society (ibid., 37).
The emergence of the power of modern social communications formed an important part of the Encyclical's background. Pope John XXIII had the media especially in mind when he called for "fairness and impartiality" in the use of "instruments for the promotion and spread of mutual understanding between nations" afforded by science and technology; he decried "ways of disseminating information which violate the principles of truth and justice, and injure the reputation of another nation" (ibid., 90).
2. Today, as we observe the fortieth anniversary of Pacem in Terris, the division of peoples into opposing blocs is mostly a painful memory , but peace, justice and social stability are still lacking in many parts of the world. Terrorism, conflict in the Middle East and other regions, threats and counter-threats, injustice, exploitation, and assaults upon the dignity and sanctity of human life both before and after birth are dismaying realities of our times.
