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World Communications Day
The Church, realizing "that she is truly and intimately linked with mankind and its history".(1) wishes by means
of this initiative [the First World Communications Day], proposed by the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, to
draw the attention of her children and of all men of good will to the vast and complex phenomenon of the modern
means of social communication, such as the press, motion pictures, radio and television, which form one of the
most characteristic notes of modern civilization.
(1) Constitutio Pastoralis de Ecclesia in mindo huius temporis prooemium.
Quoted from the First World Communications Day Message given by Pope Paul VI in 1967
On 30 January 1948, by Letter Protocol No. 153.561 from the Secretariat of State of His Holiness Pope Pius XII,
the Pontifical Commission for the Study and Ecclesiastical Evaluation of Films on Religious or Moral Subjects
was established; at the same time Bishop Martin John O'Connor was nominated President and the following persons
were designated as Members: Rev. Mons. Maurizio Raffa, representing the Sacred Congregation of the Council;
Rev. Mons. Ferdinando Prosperi, representative of the Office Catholique International du Cinématographe and
provisional Secretary of the new Commission; Mr Giacomo Ibert and Architect Ildo Avetta.
On 17 September 1948 the Holy Father approved the statutes of this new Office of the Roman Curia, which was
renamed the Pontifical Commission for Educational and Religious Films.
One would have needed to be a clairvoyant to foresee the remarkable future of this minute Office, composed of a
President and four Members and housed in a single room in the Palazzo San Carlo in Vatican City, in a wing
still overflowing with the Information Office's vast archives on the Second World War. In spite of its modest
beginnings, this small Commission was to write a new page in the history of the Church's pastoral and cultural
activity.
We have a right to the truth because,
without the truth, we cannot be at peace
in this life, nor reach our heavenly
destiny in the life to come. But others
also have a right to the truth, and this
places a heavy obligation on us to share
the truth that we possess. I would go so
far as to say that the most fundamental
duty we have in life is to love others
by giving them what others have given to
us, namely, a knowledge of the truth.
Our Right to the Truth by John A. Hardon, S.J.
World Communications Day, the only worldwide celebration called for by the Second Vatican Council ("Inter
Mirifica", 1963), is marked in most countries, on the recommendation of the bishops of the world, on the Sunday
before Pentecost (in 2006, May 28).
The announcement of the theme is customarily made on September 29, the Feast of the Archangels Michael,
Raphael and Gabriel, who has been designated as the patron of those who work in radio.
The Holy Father's message for World Communications Day is traditionally published in conjunction with the
Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, patron of writers (January 24), to allow bishops' conferences, diocesan offices
and communications organizations sufficient time to prepare audiovisual and other materials for national and
local celebrations.
Messages of the Holy Father for the World Communications Day
Pope Paul VI |
WCD | YEAR | WCD THEME FOR THE YEAR |
1 | 1967 |
Church and Social Communication: First World Communication Day |
2 | 1968 |
Social Communications and the Development of Nations |
3 | 1969 |
Social Communications and the Family |
4 | 1970 |
Social Communications and Youth |
5 | 1971 |
The role of Communications Media in promoting unity among men |
6 | 1972 |
The Media of Social Communications at the Service of Truth |
7 | 1973 |
The Mass Media and the Affirmation and Promotion of Spiritual Values |
8 | 1974 |
Social Communications and Evangelization in Today's World |
9 | 1975 |
The Mass Media and Reconciliation |
10 | 1976 |
Social Communications and the Fundamental Rights and Duties of Man |
11 | 1977 |
Advertising in the Mass Media: Benefits, Dangers, Responsibilities |
12 | 1978 |
The receiver in Social Communications: his expectations, his rights and his duties |
Pope John Paul II |
WCD | YEAR | WCD THEME FOR THE YEAR |
13 | 1979 |
Social Communications: Protecting the Child and promoting his best interest in the family and in society |
14 | 1980 |
Social Communications and Family |
15 | 1981 |
Social Communications and Responsible Human Freedom |
16 | 1982 |
Social Communications and the Problems of the Elderly |
17 | 1983 |
Social Communications and the Promotion of Peace |
18 | 1984 |
Social Communication: Instruments of Encounter Between Faith and Culture |
19 | 1985 |
Social Communications for a Christian Promotion of Youth |
20 | 1986 |
Social Communications and the Christian Formation of Public Opinion |
21 | 1987 |
Social Communications at the Service of Justice and Peace |
22 | 1988 |
Social Communications and the Promotion of Solidarity and Fraternity Between People and Nations |
23 | 1989 |
Religion in the Mass Media |
24 | 1990 |
The christian message in a computer culture |
25 | 1991 |
The Communications media and the unity and progress of the human family |
26 | 1992 |
The proclamation of Christ's Message in the Communications Media |
27 | 1993 |
Videocassettes and audiocassettes in the formation of culture and of conscience |
28 | 1994 |
Television and family: guidelines for good viewing |
29 | 1995 |
Cinema: communicator of culture and of values |
30 | 1996 |
The Media: Modern Forum for Promoting the Role of Women in Society |
31 | 1997 |
Communicating Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life |
32 | 1998 |
Sustained by the Spirit, communicate hope |
33 | 1999 |
Mass media: a friendly companion for those in search of the Father |
34 | 2000 |
Proclaiming Christ in the Media at the Dawn of the New Millennium |
35 | 2001 |
Preach from the housetops: The Gospel in the Age of Global Communication |
36 | 2002 |
Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel |
37 | 2003 |
The Communications Media at the Service of Authentic Peace in the Light of "Pacem in Terris" |
38 | 2004 |
The Media and the family: A Risk and a Richness |
39 | 2005 |
The Communications Media: At the Service of Understanding Among Peoples |
Pope Benedict XVI |
WCD | YEAR | WCD THEME FOR THE YEAR |
40 | 2006 |
The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation |
41 | 2007 |
Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education |
42 | 2008 | The Media: At the Crossroads between Self-Promotion and Service.
Searching for the Truth in order to Share it with Others. |
43 | 2009 | New
Technologies, New Relationships, Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue
and Friendship |
44 | 2010 | The
Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the
Service of the Word |
45 | 2011 |
Truth,
Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age |
46 | 2012 | Silence
and Word: Path of Evangelization |
47 | 2013 | Social Networks:
Portals of Truth and Faith; New Paces for Evangelization |
Pope Francis |
WCD | YEAR | WCD THEME FOR THE YEAR |
48 | 2014 | Communication
at the Service of an Authentic Culture of Encounter |
49 | 2015 | Communicating
the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love |
50 | 2016 | Communication
and Merrcy: A Fruitful Encounter |
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