We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
'Every word has a spark of fire and life inside it!' Pope Francis urges the Catholic media to be wise with words
FREE Catholic Classes
Words are one of the most powerful things in the world today. It is the media's duty to distribute information using words; how those words are used means everything.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
12/22/2014 (9 years ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: Pope Francis, Pope, Francis, media, communication, truth, faith, word, propaganda, misinformation, slander, sins, sin
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "In a world where words and images are used to manipulate or to scapegoat people, Catholic media must use them with a care that shows how powerful words can be," said Pope Francis to the employees of the Italian Catholic bishops' television station, TV 2000.
Too often, communication and the media has their own agenda and brings about more propaganda than news; this could be dangerous to those forming their opinions based on the information provided through the news.
Be the voice for those who can't be heard
"Audiences have a right to be treated as people with both a brain and a heart, and to receive the information they need to make judgments about what is going on in the world," said Pope Francis.
"Reawaken words! This is the first task of a communicator. Every word has a spark of fire and life inside it," he expressed. "Too often communications meida have been used for 'propaganda, ideologies, political aims or for economic or technical control. Have the courage to speak frankly and freely."
Life has become fast-paced, people want things immediately and long for quick and ready access to almost everything. As society has been sped up, the media has had to convert into fitting the needs of people.
There are three sins which communicators must avoid, according to the Pope: misinformation, slander, and defamation.
The most serious of the three, in terms of communication, "is in fact misinformation, for it leads you to believe only one part of the truth," he said.
"If we are truly convinced of what we have to say, the words will come," explained Pope Francis. "If, on the other hand, we are preoccupied with tactical aspects, our words will be artificial and uncommunicative, insipid."
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sacrifices of Faith: The Pro-Life Legacies of St. Gianna and Jessica Hanna
-
How to love God by caring for our bodies
-
Pope Francis calls for negotiations to End Russia-Ukraine War
-
Pope Francis Contemplates Return to U.S. for United Nations Assembly Address
-
Pope Francis Calls on Faithful to Embrace Faith, Hope, and Charity in New Teaching Series
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Monday, April 29, 2024
- St. Catherine of Siena: Saint of the Day for Monday, April 29, 2024
- Prayer for the Dead # 3: Prayer of the Day for Monday, April 29, 2024
- Daily Readings for Sunday, April 28, 2024
- St. Peter Chanel: Saint of the Day for Sunday, April 28, 2024
- Prayer before a Crucifix: Prayer of the Day for Sunday, April 28, 2024
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.