Late Pope Francis’ message for the 59th World Day of Social Communications, released on January 24, 2025, is titled “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts” (cf. 1 Pet 3:15-16).
In this message as the world marks the day today, he urges communicators to foster hope through gentle and respectful dialogue, countering the prevalent culture of aggression and division in today’s media landscape.
Key Themes:
Disarming Communication: Pope Francis criticizes the use of communication to spread fear, prejudice, and hatred. He calls for a purification of communication, emphasizing the need to avoid reducing reality to slogans and to refrain from using words as weapons.
Hope as a Communal Effort: He highlights that hope is a collective endeavor, urging communicators to share stories of goodness and mercy, especially those that highlight the dignity of individuals and the importance of community.
Gentle and Reflective Communication: The Pope encourages communicators to adopt a style that is gentle and reflective, capable of pointing out paths of dialogue and understanding. He emphasizes the importance of speaking to the hearts of others and promoting a culture of care.
Personal Integrity: He advises communicators to care for their interior lives, to be meek, and to never forget the faces of the people they serve, ensuring that their communication is rooted in empathy and respect.
In summary, Pope Francis calls for a transformation in communication, urging communicators to be bearers of hope and to engage in dialogue that is characterized by gentleness and respect, thereby contributing to a more unified and compassionate society.
As we Mark the 59th World Day of Social Communications, Sister Communicators in Ghana pledge to work diligently having in mind the dignity of the human person and to be “Communicators of hope ”
Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu, SMMC
( Sister Communicator )
