Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aparecida (Agenzia Fides) - Sunday 20 May for the Catholic Church is the 41 World Day of Communications which has the theme: “Children and the Media: a challenge for Education”. For the occasion we interviewed the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications Archbishop John Foley presently in Aparecida to attend the 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Pope Benedict XVI in his address to open the Conference in Aparecida asked the Bishops to use the media for mission. What is the role of communications in the present day culture?
The culture of today cannot be understood if we ignore the reality of communications. Papal teaching has insisted clearly on this matter since Vatican II and it was taken up by John Paul II and now too by Pope Benedict XVI. We must realise that the people to whom we wish to offer the message of Christ see and understand the world according to categories offered by the media often more so that those proposed by the family, school, political parties, the Churches. Mission cannot be effective unless we incorporate this reality which has such great influence on the mentality of men and women today.
The Church in Latin America relies heavily on these means for spreading the Gospel. How do you think can the Bishops make the most of these cultural spaces?
The Bishops of Latin America with great courage and effort have safeguarded and supported the numerous media on the continent. They certainly know they can rely on this great resources which only needs to be put in relation with the rest of the activity of evangelisation, so communications and pastoral are not two separate worlds and effective communications will enhance our work and generate spaces of communion. Let's not forget that after all evangelisation is communication!
Do you think clergy, religious and lay pastoral operators are trained to face the media challenges of our day?
The plenary assembly of our Council highlighted the urgent need of a formative instance in this field. Everyone is encouraged to propose various ways of helping priests and consecrated persons become familiar with the keys to this new culture and to speak with success the different language used today by children and young people. Our efforts must focus on them especially as the Pope said in his Message for this 41st World Communications Day.
Why is the phenomenon of the media often seen simply as a question of technology?
This is a simplification into which it is easy to fall because communication involves a series of elaborate technical equipment. However the Church, an expert in humanity, insists that most important of all are individuals, families, groups and communication among themselves. This communication creates new forms of behaviour in which technology is an opportunity and support but never a protagonist.
Do you think the profile of the Catholic communicator has changed?
I think the profiles have multiplied because the fields of communications in which we must be present are numerous. But the basic traits remain: the Catholic communicator must be first of all a convinced and enthusiastic believer who has encountered the Lord and collaborates with His Church's activity to announce His message. In daily life the communicator must be faithful to the message and creative with regard to means to spread it always with the horizon of truth, the common good and freedom.
In view of the evolution of society and the Church, what is your opinion of the Rete Informatica of the Church in Latin America (RIIAL) launched over 15 years ago?
I think it was providential that RIIAL, articulated with many other communications initiatives, was founded and is so active in Bishops Conferences and dioceses. This has facilitate communications both in the preparation and in the diffusion of 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean. And this is the first time because the Santo Domingo Conference could not rely on such numerous and effective means. I am sure this will give new impulse to the awareness that discipleship and mission in the 21st century must continue to make use of these spaces to promote communion and dialogue with the whole world. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2007; righe 63, parole 682)
