Dear friends,

Pope Francis has given us the message of the 50th World Day of Social Communications. This year he put together Mercy and Communication, stating:

"What we say and how we say it, every word and every gesture should be able to express compassion, tenderness and forgiveness of God for all. Love, by its nature, is communication, leads to open up and not to isolate (...), words can build bridges between people, families, social groups and peoples. And this is in the physical well as virtual/digital environment."

The invitation to communicate with mercy is open and universal, it is offered to the Church and to all people of good will, to diplomats and politicians, to the peoples and social groups, both in the physical world as well as in digital/virtual ambience. The communication of mercy knows no bounds because it depends on the quality of the person, one's ability to listen, one's openness and sharing, and not from the media: "Even e-mails, text messages, social networks, chats can be forms of communication fully human. It is not technology that determines whether the communication is authentic or not, but the heart of man and his ability to make good use of the means at one's disposal. Social networks are able to foster relationships and to promote the good of society. "

At the end of the message Pope Francis gives a glimpse of some of the typical lines of his pontificate: like the culture of the meeting, the centrality of the person, the Church going out of herself: "Communication, its place and its instruments have resulted in a widening of horizons for many people . This is a gift of God, and is also a great responsibility. I like to call this power of communication as "proximity". The meeting between the communication and mercy is fruitful to the extent that it creates a proximity/nearness that cares, comforts, heals, accompanies and celebrates. "

I wish you all a good reflection and application of the message of Pope Francis in your personal, family/community, work and social life; and I wish you also a nice, happy feastday of St. Francis de Sales and St. John Bosco, two great communicators of God's mercy to the young and to the needy.

Sincerely:

Fr. Filiberto González,

Councillor for Social Communication