World Communications Day 2008
This year, the 42nd World Communications Day is celebrated on Sunday 4 May 2008 – the Feast of the Ascension.
Truth lies at the heart of Pope Benedict XVI's message for this year's World Communications Day. The theme is: "The Media: At The Crossroads between Self-Promotion and Service. Searching for the Truth in order to Share it with Others".
In his message, the Holy Father speaks of the importance of defending and respecting human dignity in all areas of social communication. He says that "many people now think there is a need…for info-ethics, just as we have bioethics in the field of medicine and in scientific research linked to life".
This year’s World Communications Day looks at the important role that the media plays in the lives of individuals and society at large. The Holy Father says that: "Truly, there is no area of human experience, especially given the vast phenomenon of globalization, in which the media have not become an integral part of interpersonal relations and of social, economic, political and religious development"
Here you'll find resources and multimedia relating to World Communications Day 2008.
Pope Benedict's message
The need for "info-ethics"
The Pope has used his World Communications Day message to call on the media to respect and defend human dignity. The Holy Father acknowledged the role of social communications as a potential force for good recognising how it has assisted in the development of democracy and dialogue among the world’s people. However, Pope Benedict also points out the dangers of an ethics-free media:
“When communication loses its ethical underpinning and eludes society’s control, it ends up no longer taking into account the centrality and inviolable dignity of the human person”.
AUDIO: Bishop John Arnold discusses the Pope's World Communications Day message
Bishop John Arnold is the Church's media bishop for England and Wales.
"Freedom of information - a wonderful thing, but the dignity of the person is also a very wonderful thing that we must protect."
Bishop John Arnold on the Pope's World Communications Day message 2008 (mp3)
AUDIO: Fr Bernardo Suate on how new technologies are changing communications in Africa
Fr Bernardo Suate is Director of Signis Rome Services. Signis is the World Catholic Association for Communication.
Communications Sunday Prayer
O God, whose word is truth and in whose light we see light,
guide those who tell the story of our times through word and image.
Make them seekers after truth and advocates of human dignity.
Grant discernment to all who rely on their labours,
and, as we confront the pain and promise of this world,
awaken in us a sense of wonder at your presence and of longing for your peace.
St Clare of Assisi
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of St Clare of Assisi as patron saint of television. She was given this title by Pope Pius XII because on Christmas night in 1252, too ill to attend Mass, the saint received the grace of being present at the Mass, without leaving her room.