Vatican official says Pope John Paul changed media efforts of papacy

Published: 2006-10-16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II revolutionized the communications efforts of the papacy, particularly through his use of television, said U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley. "He gave himself to the world through the media," said the archbishop, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Father Giuseppe Mazza, a professor of communications at Pontifical Gregorian University, said Pope John Paul and the media were "enchanted with each other." Overcoming concerns about profaning the papacy by being extraordinarily available -- including holding full-blown press conferences during papal trips -- Pope John Paul "revolutionized the relationship between the media and faith, creating faith in the media," Father Mazza said. The archbishop and the professor spoke at an Oct. 16 press conference marking the release of "Karol Wojtyla: A Pontificate Live," a book of 60 Italian-language essays about the late pope's attitude toward the media and their attitudes toward him.

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