Christian media in the Middle East: Archbishop Celli

Vatican City, 11 June 2013: Communication as an instrument of peace in the Middle East – that’s the theme of a visit to Amman this week by Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Speaking with Vatican Radio’s Philippa Hitchen just ahead of his trip, Archbishop Celli said that “This is just a follow up of our meeting in Beirut with bishops of the Middle East….we were working together with bishops belonging to the different Catholic rites, discussing and rediscovering the real meaning of living the Gospel of love and peace in the Middle East situation…..division is not a sign of the disciples of Jesus.

‘I was admiring the dedication and generosity of those pastors remaining with their people’, said the Archbishop, adding ‘Certainly this is a delicate moment and we have to pray…..the theme will be communication as an instrument of peace, how in our daily lives, we can create an atmosphere and a reality of peace that we can touch with our hands.”

Archbishop Celli, who arrived in the Jordanian capital on Sunday evening, will take part in a seminar on the role of Arab Christian media at the service of justice, peace and human rights, as well as a conference on new models of social communication as part of the Church’s new evangelization. Before returning to Rome on Wednesday, he’ll also meet the Jordanian Prime Minister and visit the national Press Institute in Amman.
Source: VR Eng