Pope Leo XIV has called for the protection of authentic human identity and communication in a rapidly evolving digital age, emphasizing the sacred value of the human face and voice in his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications.
In the message, themed “Preserving Human Voices and Faces,” the Pontiff reflected on the importance of personal identity, describing faces and voices as unique features that define every individual and shape human relationships.
Drawing from ancient Greek and Latin traditions, Pope Leo XIV noted that the Greek term for person, prósopon (“face”), points to presence and relationship, while the Latin word persona evokes the distinctive sound of a person’s voice.
The Pope stressed that faces and voices are sacred gifts from God, rooted in humanity’s creation in the image and likeness of the Creator. He said God first called humanity into existence through His Word, a message later proclaimed through the prophets and ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ.
Quoting the First Letter of John, the Pope highlighted that humanity has “heard and seen” the Word of God through the voice and face of Jesus, whom he described as the perfect expression of divine communication.
The annual World Day of Social Communications, observed by the Catholic Church, focuses on the role of media and communication in society and the responsibility to uphold truth, dignity, and authentic human connection.
Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah HHCJ (Catholic Sister Communicators Network-Ghana)
