(ANS – Vatican City) – The centrality of the human person in the processes of communication and the balance necessary between the word and  silence. These are the themes in the message of the Holy Father for the 46th World Communications Day  issued today 24 January the liturgical feast of Saint Francis of Sales, Patron of journalists. It was presented at a press conference by Mons. Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication, Mons. Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication, Mons. Giuseppe Antonio Scotti, Extra Secretary of the same Pontifical Council and Dr. Angelo Scelzo, Under-Secretary of the Secretary of the Pontifical Council.

Each year in his Message the Pope analyses the  culture of communication in order to offer suggestions to people of today and to guide the Church’s pastoral activity. In recent years Benedict XVI has given a great deal of attention to the processes and dynamics of communication, especially in the context of the cultural transformation brought about by technological development. In his message this year  the Holy fathers turns his attention to a “classic” element of communication: the link between silence and the word. Even though a classical one this aspect is becoming ever more important in the context of the digital culture.

After having considered in the last three years the dimensions and the potentialities of the new technologies and the digital world, this year Benedict XVI goes to a deeper level in respect of  communication, recalling the need for Silence and the Word to be integrated “if authentic dialogue and deep closeness between people are to be achieved.”
 
Silence and the world are ““two aspects of communication which need to be kept in balance, to alternate and to be integrated with one another.” Expression, in which a person says something about himself cannot be the only thing that matters , since it is only in moments of silence that a person listens to another and allows a full human relationship to exist.

In man’s heart there is a constant restlessness  the Pope observes a search that is expressed through questions about meaning: “Men and women cannot rest content with a superficial and unquestioning exchange of sceptical opinions and experiences of life – all of us are in search of truth.” Today through social networks and new technologies the continuous  exchange of ideas between individuals is encouraged but “people today are frequently bombarded with answers to questions they have never asked and to needs of which they were unaware. If we are to recognize and focus upon the truly important questions, then silence is a precious commodity that enables us to exercise proper discernment in the face of the surcharge of stimuli and data that we receive,” and “help people to rediscover themselves and that Truth which gives meaning to all things” that is God.

“For this to happen, it is necessary to develop an appropriate environment, a kind of ‘eco-system’ that maintains a just equilibrium between silence, words, images and sounds.” In this area the Pope is well aware of the opportunities offered  by digital technologies, when he seems to make a clear reference to the social network of Twitter: “In concise phrases, often no longer than a verse from the Bible, profound thoughts can be communicated, as long as those taking part in the conversation do not neglect to cultivate their own inner lives”. Perhaps, this is also a reference to the the comments made by Bishops and theologians about their use of these means, to encourage reflection by the public.

The final part of the message is devoted to education to communication, a task to which those who use  communication are called: “learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak. This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization: both silence and word are essential elements, integral to the Church’s work of communication for the sake of a renewed proclamation of Christ in today’s world.”

Mons. Celli made the point that this message finds its place between two Synods, that on the Word held between 5 and 26 October 2008 and that on Evangelisation planned for 7 to 28 October 2012. In addition, the words of Benedict XVI direct peoples’ attention to the issue of the clamour of modern day communication.

World Communications Day is the only world celebration for which the Vatican Council II (Inter mirifica, 1963) expressed its desire and it is celebrated in almost all countries according to a decision of the Bishops on the Sunday before Pentecost. The theme is announced on 29 September, the feast of the Archangels Michael, Raphael and Gabriel, Patron of those who work in radio. The Message of the Holy Father for World Communications Day  is made public on 24 January the liturgical memorial of Saint Francis of  Sales, Patron of journalists.

Published 24/01/2012