When the public has an opportunity to see and hear Benedict XVI without “filters,” it generally has a good impression of the Pope, says a social communications professor.
Norberto González Gaitano, a professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, stated this in an interview with ZENIT after a three-day seminar on “Church and Communications: Identity and Dialogue.” The seminar ended Wednesday and took place in that university.
The participants came from Europe, Latin America, the United States and Africa to discuss the communications experiences and strategies of the Church in the third millennium. González Gaitano addressed the participants on “The Effect of the Pope’s Trips on Public Opinion,” focusing in particular on the Pontiff’s 2008 trip to the United States.
Reporting on research he conducted regarding this trip, the professor noted that Benedict XVI’s visit was followed through the media by 84% of Americans. More than 60% of Americans had a favorable opinion of the Pope, as opposed to 17% who did not. Moreover, 61% of the total said that the visit had surpassed their expectations.
ZENIT spoke with González Gaitano, who is also a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and director of the www.familyandmedia.eu Web site, about his research and his thoughts on current public opinion about the Church.
Full interview on www.zenit.org
ROME, MAY 3, 2010 (Zenit.org)