World Communication Day: Pope Francis Urges Media Professionals To Exemplify Truth

By Eleugu Mgbemgasa…

As the globe marks World Communication Day, media professionals have been urged to exemplify truth, social justice and equality for peace, cordiality, comfort and prosperous of the society.

The urge was given by the Vice Chancellor of Claretian University, Nekede, Owerri, Rev. Fr. Prof. Wence Madu, while reflecting on Pope Francis’s message on World Day of Social Communication Commemoration, held on Sunday, at Maria Asumpta Cathedral, Owerri.

The central message of the 2023 Global Communication Day Celebration is “Speaking From The Heart” (speaking the truth in love), Pope Francis who quoted Saint Paul, the Apostle’s Letter to the Ephesians, urged journalists not “to be afraid of proclaiming the truth – even if it is at times uncomfortable, but of doing so without charity, without heart”.

The Holy Father who told media professionals not to be afraid of speaking the truth – even to power – in their daily activities no matter the resultant effect, advised them to ensure that their writings and publications are from their hearts which project fact, purity, peace, cordiality and social justice to the edification of the society.

The Pontiff stressed that “Jesus warns us that every tree is known by its fruit (Luke 6: 44). The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (V 45)”.

The Holy See harped that “This is why, in order to communicate truth with charity, it is necessary to purify one’s heart. Only by listening and speaking with a pure heart can we see beyond appearances and overcome the vague in which, also in the field of information, does not help us discern in the complicated world in which we live… Communicating in a cordial manner means that those who read or listen to us are led to welcome our participation in the joys, fears, hopes and sufferings of the women and men of our time. Those who speak in this way love the other because they care and protect their freedom without violating it”.

Fr Madu maintained that Pope Francis emphasized that speaking accurately, sincerely and fearlessly will go a long way to foster the culture of peace especially in “places where there is war; to open paths that allow for dialogue and reconciliation in places where hatred and enmity rage”, calling on government to allow the media enjoy freedom rights as enshrined in the Communication Freedom Act to ginger media professionals to effectively and accurately exemplify their assigned duties of disseminating relevant information capable of correcting social ills.

In his admonition, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese, His Lordship, Moses Chikwe, told journalists to indulge in pure and objective journalism which he posited are germane and beauty of information propagation.

“Good communication is all about accurate message to the listening public which is done with love, sincerity, peace and compassion, for media is truth itself hence practitioners ought not to derail from; indulge in investigative journalism to enable you represent the truth to the public, this way the society will be good for it”, Bishop Chikwe said.

The Commemoration of World Communication Day started with Eucharistic Celebration at the Maria Asumpta Cathedral Owerri officiated by Rev. Fr Dr. Wence Madu alongside other priests who urged Christians to be good listeners of accurate information as they consolidate goodness, godliness and benevolence.