Disarming

In today's environment media is also social media. Every media outlet posts it's media output online, as well as on their social media platforms within a few minutes. The way words are used in the Media, even more so on social media is sickening. These days people seem to consider their conversations more like a war. The words used are very much loaded, both by aggressiveness and many a times with hatred or belittlement. Personally speaking, sometimes I have even expressed my displeasure at such words and comments on social media. Many a times, it becomes impossible for me to react or comment because of the loadedness of words and expressions that are at use. I'm grateful to Pope Leo for shedding light on the issue.

It's been hardly three days since he is elected the Pope. On the fourth day of his appearance before the World as the Pope, Leo XIV invited media professionals to promote a different kind of communication. On Monday in the Pope Paul VI Hall was this meeting with the Media professionals. He shared with them his dream and the Church's dream regarding communication. Communication 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."

"The way we communicate is of fundamental importance", he said. "We must say no to the war of words and images; we must reject the paradigm of war."

The Pope reaffirmed the Church's solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for reporting the truth, and he called for their release.

An Augustinian, he quoted Saint Augustine: "Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times."

"Communication is not only a transmission of information but it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion."

Finally in conclusion, Pope Leo repeated Francis' message for the 2025 World day of Social Communication. "Let us disarm communication of our prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred. Let us disarm words, and we will help disarm the world."

I think we all need to do an examination of conscience regarding our use of words and images.