Media must transmit the truth, say bishops gathered for CELAM meeting

Aparecida, Brazil, May 21, 2007 / 09:16 am

In a message for World Communications Day, celebrated on May 20, the Communications Committee of the 5th General Conference of the Latin American Bishops’ Council sent greetings to those who work in the media and reminded them that they are called to “transmit the truth.”
 
“We send our cordial greetings to members of the media that have been with us both during the first visit to Latin America of His Holiness Benedict XVI and the celebration of the 5th Conference,” the bishops said in their message.

“Children are the greatest thermometer for measuring the capacity to critically and actively form the new generations,” they said.  “Do not abandon this beautiful service that makes you sowers of freedom, identity and community.  Receive our blessing and special prayers to Our Lady of Aparecida on this day,” the statement said in conclusion.

Earlier during the same press conference, the director of communications for CELAM, Father David Gutierrez provided some statistics on the press’ coverage of past papal visits and the CELAM conferences. He said that during the visit of John Paul II, some 1,500 journalists covered the papal trip, but that the number decreased to 300 for the General Conferences of Puebla and Santo Domingo that followed the pope’s departure.

During Benedict XVI’s travels outside Italy, 2,700 journalists covered his visit to Turkey and 4,500 his visit to Germany.  For this most recent trip to Brazil, some 3,700 journalists were accredited to attend.  500 have remained to cover the 5th General Conference at Aparecida.