Conference on the occasion of the World Social Communications Day

‘Communication at the service of an authentic culture of encouter’ is the theme which Pope Francis has chosen for his message on the occasion of the World Day for Social Communications.

Communication is a means through which we can encounter and build human relations. By building personal human relations, whereby we take a genuine interest in one another, we are upholding our human dignity. The advancements made in the networks of social communications have unfortunately led us to communicate without actually building personal human relations. Our relations remain at a virtual and possibly superficial level or they may be merely functional. For this reason, we need to direct our efforts towards reaching the objectives made available by the means of social communications, so that our encounter may be more personal and that we may help one another to develop for the good of one and all, for the common good.

God is in Himself the most significant communication. He is in a relationship between three persons – the Holy Trinity – distinct from one another but in perfect union – one God. Out of his love for us, God reached out and communicated with us. He created us in His image and likeness, so much so that we are created with an inherent desire to draw close to one another, to live in love and unity. Every form of communication between human beings should be a reflection of that Divine communication; it should lead us to build relations which are to our mutual benefit. By doing so, we reflect the image of God, resembling Him in the way He communicates and relates, both within Himself and with human beings.

In a globalised world, the contemporary means of social communications have made unprecented advances, making it easier for us to communicate even with the most remote parts of the world. These days, no place is too far. Every place may be reached, and reached in the blink of an eye. May these means bring us closer to one another, not only at the level of information, but also at a personal level, to the extent that they will encourage us to feel compassion for one another and inspire solidarity, to ensure a more dignified life for all. Sadly, this is not always the case. Inspite of the fact that we are well aware of human misery and its consequences, I feel that sufficient efforts are not being made for this human wound to be eradicated once and for all. The scandalous gap in human development has not yet been overcome, and the desired balance has not yet been reached. Together with the Pope, I augur that this objective will also be achieved through the means of social communications. This is what Pope Francis means, when he refers to an ‘authentic culture of encounter’. We all know to what extent the Pope holds these issues dear to his heart: human growth, social justice and the struggle against poverty and misery.

Democracy is also an essential element of social justice because it touches upon freedom, which is a fundamental human right. Much of the poverty and misery which exists in the world is a result of a lack of democracy. Many people are denied their rights so that a few may benefit. This minority are those who exercise power, be it political or economic, to the extent that they become extremely opulent, while at the same time, many other people are denied all that is essential in their lives, and as a result 22,000 children continue to die of hunger daily. Globalisation may sometimes be to the advantage of this abuse. In this scenario, the means of social communications are not serving as a suitable channel for the creation of a world in which there is more justice, to the extent that all the people in the world may benefit and develop equitably.

With great satisfaction, I may state that in Malta, the Church has always been at the forefront in the promotion of the human being; even more so, it was a pioneer with regards to several aspects of social wellbeing. The Church in Malta has communicated through her voice and through her love. In our society, throughout the times, the Church has never shirked from the responsibility of speaking out, in order that fundamental values may be safeguarded for the common good. It also strived valiantly and in a concrete manner to support the poor and the vulnerable, and all those who are in need of help.

In a secularised world, and in a pluralistic society, all the Church asks for is that she may be allowed to voice her opinion, together with the opinions of the rest of society. She does not seek privileges and advantages, but simply the right which everyone else enjoys in accordance with the principles of democracy. This right is never explicity denied. Yet if every time the Church speaks out, she is attacked on other matters with the scope of being discredited, in such a way that the message she is trying to convey is lost, then this would be the outcome of secularist politics, which do not allow the Church to perform her mission in society. We are a Church who communicates with love, in our efforts to do good for the benefit of all, even beyond our shores, through the service of our missionaries. Therefore, it is our desire to make our voice heard, unhampered by those who may wish to slur or silence us in the process.

✠  Paul Cremona O.P.

     Archbishop of Malta