Theme announced for World Communications Day

September 29, 2015

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has announced that the theme of the 2016 World Communications Day will be “Communication and mercy: a fruitful encounter.”

“The choice of theme this year has clearly been determined by the Celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and the Holy Father undoubtedly desired that World Communications Day would provide the appropriate occasion to reflect on the deep synergy between communication and mercy,” the Pontifical Council said in a statement.

“The Theme highlights the capacity of good communication to open up a space for dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation, thereby allowing fruitful human encounters to flourish,” the Pontifical Council added. “At a time when our attention is often drawn to the polarized and judgmental nature of much commentary on the social networks, the theme invokes the power of words and gestures to overcome misunderstandings, to heal memories and to build peace and harmony.”

The message for the day is scheduled to be released on January 24, the memorial of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists, and the day itself will be commemorated on May 8.

 

 

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Further information:

• Comunicato del Pontificio Consiglio delle Comunicazioni Sociali (Holy See Press Office)