It was refreshing and significant that on the first Monday of his Papacy, Pope Leo XIV chose to address what is, arguably, the most pressing issue our of time, a “precious gift”- Communication.
He spoke to journalists in Rome. But his message transcends borders- offering a clear moral compass on how we speak, listen, and connect. That he prioritised the communication question early in his Papacy, brings agency and urgency to an issue that’s potent yet largely misunderstood and abused.
For communicators like yours truly, it’s always great to see that your vocation is being championed by one of the most influential people on the planet. True, communication is undergoing testing times. Clarity, solidarity, and even divine intervention are all so much welcome.
Like all smart leaders, the Pope understands that communication is powerful in shaping society. “As you know, communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion,” he noted in his address.
Pope Leo XIV chose to address communication and journalism because of the toxicity, manipulation and corruption of the communication architecture to the benefit of malevolent politicians, corporates and big tech. In his native America, disinformation and misinformation is so rife that it is becoming a pandemic. Russia has invested heavily in cyber warfare against the West. Propaganda has hit industrial scales, levels like we have never seen before- supercharged by Artificial Intelligence. Folks, it’s messy.
“The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say “no” to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war,” he counselled.
He has challenged the media “to strive for a different kind of communication, one that does not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words, does not follow the culture of competition and never separates the search for truth from the love with which we must humbly seek it.”
To Pope Leo XIV free speech and press are “precious gifts” that should be safeguarded by all. He stressed that the right to be informed is critical “because only informed individuals can make free choices.” To this end he called for the release of all imprisoned journalists.
Words and style, Pope Leo XIV observed, are critical in bringing clarity and light to a society in confusion created by loveless language that are “often ideological or partisan.”
“For this reason, I repeat to you today the invitation made by Pope Francis in his message for this year’s World Day of Social Communications: let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred; let us free it from aggression.”
To the Pope, communications, especially journalism, should be a voice for the voiceless- the poor. And the clincher – if we disarm our words, we disarm war. Indeed, no other time that the world need ethical, compassionate, professional communication as today.
Key take aways:
- Just like his predecessor, Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II, Pope Leo IV will pursue the path of robust compassionate and ethical social communication.
- Free Speech, an inherent human right, the Vatican will continue to champion for the safety and rights of journalists.
- Effort will be put in educating the congregants on media literacy so that they can navigate a corrupt and harmful communication ecosystem especially in the digital and Artificial Intelligence regime.
I am closely watching the direction the Vatican will take on communication issues. There is a lot happening that needs distillation, clarity and the courage to wrestle, especially, with tech titans. We all know, but ignore, the truism that it’s through communication that we have communion and therefore community. You ruin Comms, you have ruined community and therefore society. Let’s keep it here and see how stuff unfolds.
and yeah, thank you so much for reading to the end.
Warmly,
Eric
