World Communications Day 2009

19 May 2009

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Pope Benedict’s message for the 43rd World Communications Day, introduced by Bishop Joseph Duffy in a short video interview, includes the announcement of a new Vatican Channel on YouTube.

43rd World Day of Communications

Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the 43rd World Day of Communications was published on 23 January this year ahead of the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron of journalists (24 January), and the day itself will be celebrated on 24 May. The 2009 theme is “New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship”. See video introduction by Bishop Joesph Duffy and full text of Pope Benedict’s message below, as well as themes from previous years, and information about the Vatican’s new channel on YouTube.

Bishop Joseph Duffy, Bishop of Clogher and Chairperson of the Irish Bishops’ Communications Commission, introduces World Communications Day 2009:

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Pontifical Council for Social Communications
43rd World Day of Communications
“New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.”
May 24, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters!

 

In anticipation of the forthcoming World Communications Day, I would like to address to you some reflections on the theme chosen for this year – New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship. The new digital technologies are, indeed, bringing about fundamental shifts in patterns of communication and human relationships. These changes are particularly evident among those young people who have grown up with the new technologies and are at home in a digital world that often seems quite foreign to those of us who, as adults, have had to learn to understand and appreciate the opportunities it has to offer for communications. In this year