The Vatican and the Catholic Press

On November 26, 2010, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI met members of the Italian Federation of Catholic weeklies representing 188 Catholic newspapers. He stressed three points. First: The Catholic Press has a very important role in forming a Christian conscience. Second, it must reflect clearly the Church’s viewpoint on contemporary issues. Third: While the secular media sometimes reflect a skeptical and relativistic attitude toward truth, the Church know that people need the full truth brought by Christ. On November 29, 2010 Pope Benedict received Filipino bishops who were in Rome for their ad limina visit. He emphasized the need of the Church to find its proper voice in the field of social communication and the media. Since March 2013, Pope Francis repeatedly showed the need and importance of humility, transparency and self-sacrifice. Following Pope Francis, Catholics who are good in social communication must help the Church and the Catholic press in proclaiming the message of Christ in a convincing and attractive way. Meantime, the Catholic press must be careful in presenting the policies of Pope Francis so that there will be no confusion and misunderstanding.