Pope Benedict XVI’s speech to the European Broadcasting Union

(April 30, 2011) “The task of radios and televisions is to nourish correct information, pondered on a daily basis to find the best shared solutions to various issues in a pluralistic society” said pope Benedict XVIth , addressing on Saturday, the 17th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union, (EBU) which this year is hosted by Vatican Radio, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of its founding. “This task,” the Pope continued, “requires great honesty professional correctness and respect. Beginning with his predecessor Pius XI helped by Guglielmo Marconi, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of how the successive Popes were able to transmit beyond borders, messages of great importance for humanity. He referred in particular to Pope Pius XII’s celebrated message during World War II, that gave voice to the deepest aspirations for justice and peace. Through radio, Pius XII was also able to distribute hundreds of thousands of messages from families addressed to prisoners and those missing during the war, carrying out humanitarian work which earned him an undying gratitude. Moreover through radio, the expectations of believers and peoples under regimes that oppress human rights and religious freedom, have long been met. He then expressed the hidden difficulties and risks in the development of social communications. The Pope voiced the Churches’ concerns regarding respect for human life, the defence of the family, the genuine recognition of the rights and legitimate aspirations of peoples, imbalances caused by underdevelopment and hunger in many parts of the world, the welcoming of immigrants, unemployment and social security, new forms of poverty and social marginalization, discrimination and violations of religious freedom, disarmament and the search for peaceful solutions to conflicts. In this search, the Catholic Church has a specific contribution to offer, which she intends to offer by witnessing to her adherence to the truth that is Christ, yet doing so in a spirit of openness and dialogue. He invited his listeners, to seek ways of promoting and encouraging dialogue between faith and reason” with a view to serving the common good of the nation. Finally he recalled how Twenty years ago, in 1991, when their General Assembly was received in the Vatican by the Venerable John Paul II, who encouraged them to develop their mutual collaboration in order to favour the growth of the community of the peoples of the world, in solidarity, overcoming cultural separation, uncertainties and fears.