The Catholic Church uses media to inform its community about its actions and to keep its followers updated on how the Church is interacting with the modern world. In the current age of social media with wide access to the internet, The Church must be able to keep up with its counterparts in keeping the public informed on its activity and involvement. Instead of avoiding media, as some stereotypes about the Church would lead some to assume, the Church is actually able to see news outlets and online media as tools to communicate with its audience of followers and takes advantage of online media, such as web articles, to reach thousands every day. For example, through the Vatican News website, www.vaticannews.va, readers can find articles about recent sermons and prayers and public statements, as well as daily bulletins, newsletters, and podcasts.
In the Communio et Progressio, which outlines pastoral instruction on how the Church should interact with media, it is clearly stated that the Church should be able to “read the signs of the times” in order to understand contemporary events in the world and how to appropriately respond to them (23). This need is defined by the Catholic Church’s necessity to remain relevant in its activity to the modern-day sphere. While the Church upholds a long tradition of remaining an isolated institution that does not wish to be influenced by the outer sphere, it still desires, in accordance with scripture, to interact with the world in a way that will be beneficial and offer service to the community.
For example, this article put out by the Vatican News on Easter Sunday was headlined “Pope Francis laments Easter Sunday attacks on Sri Lanka.” (Vatican News, 2019) The article elaborates on the pope’s Easter Urbi et Orbi address in St. Peter’s Square and highlights Francis’s recognition of the three attacks on Christian churches in Sri Lanka that occurred that same day. This image describes how, despite the Church honoring a universal holiday for the religion, the Pope made an effort to recognize the less fortunate tragedies happening in the world. The media makes sure to include this coverage in their news articles to communicate with the public that the Catholic Church is up to date on what is happening outside the Vatican City, and wishes to communicate their empathy and connection to those all over.
References:
“Pastoral Instruction: Communio et Progressio”, 1971.
“Pope Francis laments Easter Sunday attacks on Sri Lanka”, 2019. Retrieved from www.vaticannews.va.
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