Pontifical Council for Social Communications marks half century
April 02,2014: The Pontifical Council for Social Communications marked its 50th anniversary
on Wednesday, 2nd April. Established as a Pontifical Commission by Pope
Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council, it brought together in one office experts
in cinema, radio, television and the press to communicate the good news of the Gospel
to the ends of the earth. Pope Paul VI attended its first plenary assembly. A few
months later, he visited its newly enlarged headquarters and three years later, oversaw
the institution of World Communications Day to be celebrated in countries around the
world each year on the Sunday before Pentecost. Under Pope John Paul II the commission
was elevated to the status of Pontifical Council, and since then has expanded
its focus rapidly to keep pace with all the developments of the internet era. The
Council’s current president is Archbishop Claudio Celli. Source: Sedoc