by Jose A. Varela
Jose Antonio Varela offers this article to Exaudi’s readers on the Pope’s Message for the 55th World Communications Day, to be observed on Sunday, May 16, and entitled “’Come and See,’ effective method for human communication.
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Pope Francis’ Message for the 55th World Communications Day, which will be held this Sunday, May 16, is an invitation that takes up Jesus’ words when He called His Apostles: “Come and See.”
The Holy Father points out in this regard that the invitation “Come and See” is the method of all genuine human communication as, to express the truth of life, it’s necessary to come out of the comfortable presumption of saying “as is already known.” Instead, we must start to walk, to go and see, and to be with people, to listen to them, and to face reality.
To Go Out Always
Francis’ invitation “Come and See,” must be taken into account in every communicative expression that is to be limpid and honest, be it in the media, in preaching or in political communication. In opposition to this, to be avoided is information communicated only in writings in front of a computer, without ever going out on the street, “without wearing out the shoes’ soles,” he warns.
An “urgent” conclusion is that communicators and Pastors of the People of God will only be correct if they are able to promote encounters with people. That is, to look for stories or verify realities directly, which would otherwise not circulate; to generate encounters that would otherwise not happen.
“Come and See” is the simplest method to know a reality, says the Pope, as it is the most honest verification of all proclamation. To know it’s necessary to encounter, to enable the one before me to speak to me, to let his testimony reach me.
Protect Journalism
The papal Message dedicates important lines to journalism, as responsible to tell, as it should, the reality. What is required of professionals of the press is the courage to go where no one goes. Motivated yes by curiosity and passion, but with such openness, that at the end they return courageous and committed in assuming the risk that this entails.
It’s because of this that, thanks to journalism, the difficult conditions of minorities, the abuses and injustices against the poor, human trafficking, the destruction of the environment are made known and awareness is instigated of forgotten wars, continues the Pontiff.
The Document doesn’t neglect these times of pandemic. In this very painful reality, with so much abandonment and indolence of public policies, there are reasons to “Come and See.”
A Network That Communicates Well
Very much in line with the last Messages for World Communications Day, the Holy Father highlights that the Internet, with its innumerable social expressions, can multiply the capacity to recount stories first hand and to share them. Hence he classifies the Internet as a “formidable Instrument,” which enables us to be witnesses of events that otherwise the media would overlook, be they negative or positive stories.
However, the Internet can be our ally, just as it can also cause pain, destruction, libertinage and manipulation. Fake news is there, and the universal Pastor urges us to unmask them. The Message is very clear, reminding us that we are all responsible for the communication we engage in, the information we give and the control we exercise.
At the end of the message, Pope Francis asks us the commitment not to convert communication into a purely virtual process, but to be aware that nothing can replace completely the fact of a personal encounter.
Communication is not only with words, but also with the eyes, the tone of voice, gestures. In other words, heart to heart, something that one does little by little: first through dialogue, then through a real experience and finally in a lasting and loving encounter, adds the Holy Father.
Models of this style are Jesus Christ Himself as well as Saint Paul and all missionaries of yesterday and today, who made their preaching truly attractive, as they met with people “where they were and how they were.” Herein lies the challenge!
