VATICAN - “Communication is not simply a product of pure luck or causality, nor is it of our human capacities; at the light of Scripture, it reflects our participation in the creative, communicative, and unifying Trinitarian Love that is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” says Benedict XVI.

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “The various forms of communication – dialogue, prayer, testimony, announcing – and its various instruments – press, electronics, visual arts, music, voice, gestures, and contact – are all manifestations of the fundamental nature of the human person. It is communication that reveals the person, that creates authentic relationships and community and that allows human beings to mature in knowledge, wisdom, and love.” These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the participants of the encounter promoted by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications: “The Identity and Mission of a Communications Department in a Catholic University. A look towards the future of communications alongside the Church,” who were received in an audience on May 23 (see Fides 26/5/2008).
“Communication is not simply a product of pure luck or causality, nor is it of our human capacities; at the light of Scripture, it reflects our participation in the creative, communicative, and unifying Trinitarian Love that is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” the Pope said. God has created us to remain united to Him and has given us the gift and the task of communication, because He wishes this union to take place through our knowledge, love, and service towards Him and our brothers and sisters, in a relation of communication and love.”
In his address, the Holy Father pointed out that, “at the heart of any serious reflection on the nature and purpose of human communications there must be an engagement with questions of truth,” and he continued saying, “communicator can attempt to inform, to educate, to entertain, to convince, to comfort; but the final worth of any communication lies in its truthfulness... The art of communication is by its nature linked to an ethical value, to the virtues that are the foundation of morality.” The Pope encouraged educators to “nourish and reward that passion for truth and goodness that is always strong in the young. Help them give themselves fully to the search for truth.”
The Pope asked that greater attention be given to “the academic programs in the area of social communications, especially to the ethic dimensions of communication among people.” He recalled that in our times, the phenomena of communication is occupying “an ever larger role in social contexts.” It is important that such formation “never be considered simply a technical operation or a mere desire to give information,” but rather, it should be an invitation “to promote truth in information, bringing our peers to reflect upon events, with the aim of being educators of human beings and builders of a better world.” Among the commitments the Pope mentioned were those linked to the promotion of justice and solidarity, respect, and in all contexts, the value and dignity of every person.
“It would be a tragedy for the future of humanity,” the Pope said, “if the new instruments of communication, which allow us to share knowledge and information more rapidly and efficiently, were not to be accessible to people who are already socially and economically marginalised; or if such instruments were only used to increase the distance that separates those people from the new networks being developed at the service of social life, information and learning. It would also be a serious matter, if the globalising tendency in the world of communications were to weaken or eliminate traditional customs and local cultures, especially those that have managed to strengthen family and social values, love, solidarity and respect for life.”
The Pope expressed his esteem for “those religious communities that in spite of high financial demands and the scarcity of human resources, have opened Catholic Universities in developing countries”: “their efforts will assure the countries in which they are present, the benefit of collaboration from young men receiving a rich professional formation, inspired in Christian ethics, promoting education and teaching as a service to the entire community. I am especially pleased by the commitment to offer a solid education to all, regardless of their race, social condition or creed, which is what constitutes the mission of the Catholic University.”
At the close of his speech, the Holy Father reflected on the theme of the Encounter: the identity of a Catholic University or School. “I would like to recall that such identity is not simply a question of the number of Catholic students; it is above all a question of conviction, of truly believing that only in the mystery of the Word made flesh does the mystery of man become clear. The consequence is that the Catholic identity be, in the first place, in the decision to entrust oneself – intellect, will, mind, and heart – to God. As experts in the theory and practice of communication, and as educators who are training a new generation of communicators, yours is a privileged role, not only in your students' lives, but also in the mission of your local Churches ... to make the Good News of God's love known to everyone.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2008 righe 64, parole 820)