Benedict XVI is underlining the need to give a voice to the Church in the realm of social communications and the media.

The Pope stated this today upon receiving in audience the Filipino bishops who are in Rome for their five-yearly “ad limina” visit.

“A specific area in which the Church must always find its proper voice comes in the field of social communications and the media,” the Pontiff stated.

He continued, “The task set before the whole Catholic community is to convey a hope-filled vision of faith and virtue so that Filipinos may find encouragement and guidance on their path to a full life in Christ.”

“A unified and positive voice needs to be presented to the public in forms of media both old and new,” the Holy Father urged, “so that the Gospel message may have an ever more powerful impact on the people of the nation.”

“It is important that the Catholic laity proficient in social communications take their proper place in proposing the Christian message in a convincing and attractive way,” he said.

“If the Gospel of Christ is to be a leaven in Filipino society, then the entire Catholic community must be attentive to the force of the truth proclaimed with love,” Benedict XVI stated.

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 29, 2010 (Zenit.org)