The Belgian Catholic Church celebrated “Media Day” on Sunday, 9 November. This year it is inspired by John XXIII’s encyclical “Pacem in Terris”. To mark the Day, the Episcopal Conference diffused the text of a “universal prayer” for peace, accompanied by a reflection. “Let us always remember writes of the Belgian Episcopal Conference that the media have the power to help the cause of peace and justice, even when they speak of violence, injustice and poverty. But these same means of communication may also foment discord and violence when they respond solely to the needs of sensationalism and voyeurism. That’s why we must use the media with vigilant and critical intelligence, so that we may be able to discern the truth behind the images”. In their universal prayer for peace, Catholic journalists prayed for “peace between men, and especially for the media, that they may promote the values of truth and justice. The Belgian Church has asked journalists for a stronger commitment to “creating a climate of trust between peoples”.
