Pope urges Catholic journalists to promote truth, respect common good

Published: 2008-05-28

TORONTO (CNS) -- Promoting truth and respecting the common good are at the heart of the media's role in modern society, Pope Benedict XVI said in a message to Catholic journalists. The papal message was read aloud May 28 in Toronto at the opening of the Catholic Media Convention, which brought together more than 400 Catholic journalists. Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, told the assembly that the pope hoped the convention would underline the importance of promoting truth, goodness and beauty in a world where the ambiguity of progress is increasingly apparent. The message in the pope's name, signed by Archbishop Fernando Filoni, an assistant secretary of state, underlined that Catholic journalists have a vocation that goes beyond the boundaries of the church. They are called upon to "assist all who work in the media to recognize that the value of communication lies in its truthfulness and respect for the common good," it said.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .