At 12:30pm today (6:30am EST), in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience a group of students from the German School of Journalism.
Dear friends,
I offer a cordial greeting to all of you, who for various reasons are linked to the Institute for the promotion of the new generations of publishers. I thank the Directors Bernhard Remmers and Fra Helmut Rakowski, O.F.M. Cap. for their words of greeting.
Fifty years ago, following the Second Vatican Council, the journalistic school of the Catholic Church in Germany was founded, with the intent of caring for the people who work in the media. Since then your Institute has trained qualified journalists who work as Christians in society. Here I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the directors, students, alumni, friends and supporters for this commitment. Germany can consider herself fortunate, knowing that there are many graduates of your institute among the many journalists, that is, both in the secular and in the ecclesial media.
Christian journalists distinguish you for your positive attitude towards the person and for your professional ethics. You do not just do a job, but you fulfill a task and a commitment. How easy it is, however, to be carried away by a common opinion, by defeatism, and by pessimism that paralyzes and blinds! By habit we no longer face evil and allow things to 'go as they go', or as some have decided they should go (Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate, 137). We ask for parresia (bravery), we ask for the frankness that comes from the Holy Spirit and that helps us to trust in the truth of Christ which makes us free. We go beyond the wall of sadness and resignation and help people to open their eyes and ears and above all their hearts to be custodians of each other, and to realize that they are sons and daughters of the one Father.
Thank you all; as journalists you look at people and call injustice what it is. Thank you, for you also talk about beautiful things that perhaps less frequently make the front page, but things that focus on people. Thank you; with your Christian style you accompany the work of the Church. I wish you continued success in your commitment to journalism for people and by people. And please do not forget to pray for me. Thank you.
(Original text in Italian)
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to German Journalism Students
Dear friends,
I offer a cordial greeting to all of you, who for various reasons are linked to the Institute for the promotion of the new generations of publishers. I thank the Directors Bernhard Remmers and Fra Helmut Rakowski, O.F.M. Cap. for their words of greeting.
Fifty years ago, following the Second Vatican Council, the journalistic school of the Catholic Church in Germany was founded, with the intent of caring for the people who work in the media. Since then your Institute has trained qualified journalists who work as Christians in society. Here I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the directors, students, alumni, friends and supporters for this commitment. Germany can consider herself fortunate, knowing that there are many graduates of your institute among the many journalists, that is, both in the secular and in the ecclesial media.
Christian journalists distinguish you for your positive attitude towards the person and for your professional ethics. You do not just do a job, but you fulfill a task and a commitment. How easy it is, however, to be carried away by a common opinion, by defeatism, and by pessimism that paralyzes and blinds! By habit we no longer face evil and allow things to 'go as they go', or as some have decided they should go (Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate, 137). We ask for parresia (bravery), we ask for the frankness that comes from the Holy Spirit and that helps us to trust in the truth of Christ which makes us free. We go beyond the wall of sadness and resignation and help people to open their eyes and ears and above all their hearts to be custodians of each other, and to realize that they are sons and daughters of the one Father.
Thank you all; as journalists you look at people and call injustice what it is. Thank you, for you also talk about beautiful things that perhaps less frequently make the front page, but things that focus on people. Thank you; with your Christian style you accompany the work of the Church. I wish you continued success in your commitment to journalism for people and by people. And please do not forget to pray for me. Thank you.
(Original text in Italian)
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