Welcome to a world where communication is the key to spreading hope and positivity. In his message for the 59th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis urges communicators to be the bearers of hope in a time filled with misinformation, polarization, and media manipulation. In a fast-paced world where information flows rapidly, the Pope emphasizes the need to renew the mission of communicators in line with the teachings of the Gospel.

Francis advocates for a form of communication that is disarming – one that is devoid of aggression and competition prevalent in many media outlets. He highlights the importance of communication as a tool for unity, community building, and empathy. The Pope warns against the fragmented perception of reality caused by the programmed dispersion of attention, which hinders dialogue and mutual understanding.

Christian hope, according to the Pope, is grounded in the certainty of the presence of the risen Christ. It is an active virtue that can bring about transformation in life. Francis encourages Christians to defend hope with meekness and respect, presenting it as a visible testimony of love and unity.

One of the central themes of the message is the call for communicators to be companions on the journey, creating communication that touches people’s hearts, fosters dialogue, and promotes friendship. This form of communication must be rooted in human dignity, seeking the common good and spreading hope even in challenging circumstances.

Hope, as emphasized by the Pope, is a community project. We are all called to walk together, share life’s burdens, and contribute to building a more just and fraternal world. The Jubilee serves as a reminder to renew our hope, nurture our inner selves, and promote a culture of care and peace. Communication, in this context, becomes a bridge to form genuine relationships, heal wounds, and encourage encounters.

Pope Francis’s message underscores the transformative power of communication centered on human and Christian values. It is a potent tool to bring about positive change in society and offer hope to those in need. Let us share the hope in our hearts with gentleness and reverence, as we strive to make the world a better place for all.

Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts (cf. 1 Pet 3:15-16)

Dear brothers and sisters!

In these our times, characterized by disinformation and polarization, as a few centres of power control an unprecedented mass of data and information, I would like to speak to you as one who is well aware of the importance – now more than ever – of your work as journalists and communicators. Your courageous efforts to put personal and collective responsibility towards others at the heart of communication are indeed necessary.

As I reflect on the Jubilee we are celebrating this year as a moment of grace in these troubled times, I would like in this Message to invite you to be “communicators of hope”, starting from a renewal of your work and mission in the spirit of the Gospel.

Disarming communication

Too often today, communication generates not hope, but fear and despair, prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred. All too often it simplifies reality in order to provoke instinctive reactions; it uses words like a razor; it even uses false or artfully distorted information to send messages designed to agitate, provoke or hurt. On several occasions, I have spoken of our need to “disarm” communication and to purify it of aggressiveness. It never helps to reduce reality to slogans. All of us see how – from television talk shows to verbal attacks on social media – there is a risk that the paradigm of competition, opposition, the will to dominate and possess, and the manipulation of public opinion will prevail.

There is also another troubling phenomenon: what we might call the “programmed dispersion of attention” through digital systems that, by profiling us according to the logic of the market, modify our perception of reality. As a result, we witness, often helplessly, a sort of atomization of interests that ends up undermining the foundations of our existence as community, our ability to join in the pursuit of the common good, to listen to one another and to understand each other’s point of view. Identifying an “enemy” to lash out against thus appears indispensable as a way of asserting ourselves. Yet when others become our “enemies”, when we disregard their individuality and dignity in order to mock and deride them, we also lose the possibility of generating hope. As Don Tonino Bello observed, all conflicts “start when individual faces melt away and disappear”. [1] We must not surrender to this mindset.

Hope, in fact, is not something easy. Georges Bernanos once said that, “only those are capable of hope, who have had the courage to despair of the illusions and lies in which they once found security and which they falsely mistook for hope… Hope is a risk that must be taken. It is the risk of risks”. [2] Hope is a hidden virtue, tenacious and patient. For Christians, it is not an option but a necessary condition. As Pope Benedict XVI noted in the Encyclical Spe Salvi, hope is not passive optimism but, on the contrary, a “performative” virtue capable of changing our lives: “The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life’ (No. 2).

Accounting with gentleness for the hope that is in us

In the First Letter of Peter (3:15-16), we find an admirable synthesis in which hope is linked to Christian witness and communication: “In your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence”. I would like to dwell on three messages that we can glean from these words.

“In your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord”. The hope of Christians has a face, the face of the risen Lord.

Embracing the promise of the Holy Spirit, we find hope in the midst of despair and discover hidden goodness even in the darkest of times.

The Apostle urges us to share our hope with others, not just through words, but through living out the love of God in a way that prompts questions and curiosity.

In communicating our faith, we are called to do so with gentleness and reverence, following the example of Jesus who walked alongside his disciples with understanding and compassion.

Imagine a form of communication that uplifts, inspires, and fosters hope in a world filled with uncertainty and despair. A communication that speaks to the heart, creating connections and empathy. A communication that highlights beauty and goodness, even in the bleakest of situations, leading to compassion and solidarity.

This kind of communication does not ignore the challenges we face but offers reasons for hope, just as Martin Luther King’s words remind us that even small acts of kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.

Let us strive to communicate with humility, avoiding self-centeredness, and instead, engaging in dialogue that brings out the best in others. By doing so, we become messengers of hope and agents of change in a world that longs for connection and understanding.

Hoping together

Hope is a communal endeavor, and in this Jubilee Year, we are called to journey together, extending God’s mercy and grace to all. The message of the Jubilee extends to all aspects of society, calling for compassion, peace, and dialogue in the face of adversity.

Let us seek out stories of goodness and hope, sharing them with the world to inspire empathy and solidarity. By focusing on these glimmers of light, we can help build a more compassionate and connected world.

Do not forget the heart

As we navigate the digital age, let us not forget the importance of nurturing our inner selves and connecting with others on a personal level. Let our communication be guided by kindness, hope, and a desire to heal the wounds of humanity.

By sharing stories of hope, promoting a culture of care, and breaking down barriers, we can work together to shape a better future for all. With God’s grace and the spirit of the Jubilee, we can be beacons of light in a world that yearns for hope and connection.

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