Pope urges Italian Catholic weeklies help society discover truth

(November 26, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI urged Italy’s Catholic weekly newspapers on Friday to help public opinion read and interpret the signs of the time in the light of the truth of the Gospel. Meeting officials and collaborators of 188 newspapers that make up the Federation of the Catholic Weeklies of Italy, the Pope said that it is their duty to account for the presence of the Church that promotes and strengthens what is authentically human, and which brings to the men of today the message of the hope and truth of the Lord Jesus. He noted that today’s dominant culture, widespread in the media, assumes a sceptical and relativist attitude towards truth, regarding it as a mere opinion, thus thinking that many ‘truths’ are possible and legitimate. The Pontiff thus underscored the duty of Catholic media saying the information media are called to serve the truth with courage in order to help public opinion see and read reality from the point of view of the Gospels. It should be your constant endeavour to give voice to a viewpoint that reflects Catholic thought in all ethical and social questions, the Pope said. He said that just as a small amount of yeast raises the entire dough, so too the Church helps in the growth and maturing of what is true, good and beautiful in society. He told the newspaper officials that it is their duty to account for this presence of the Church, which promotes and strengthens what is authentically human, and which brings to the men of today the message of the hope and truth of the Lord Jesus.