On the 55th World Media Day, A Mass at the Church of the Cross
And an Invitation to Media Professionals as Witnesses of the Truth
On the 55th World Media Day that the Second Vatican Council has designated in the Catholic Church since 1966 to honor media and media professionals, the Episcopal Media Committee and the Catholic Media Center in Beirut called for a ceremonial mass on Thursday May 20, 2021 at the Church of the Cross of the Monastery of the Savior, Jeita - Lebanon.
This day, which falls annually on the Sunday that follows the Thursday of the Ascension, this year bears the title: “Come and see.” (John 1:46). Inspired by the title given by His Holiness Pope Francis, Father Abdou Bou Kasim, Director of the Catholic Media Center, thanked the participants from spiritual and civil officials, media owners and media professionals. He welcomed their participation in the symbolic celebration of the World Media Day this year due to the Corona pandemic and said: "Searching for the truth requires us to go and see, to listen to others, to glimpse events, perhaps to go where no one wants or dares to go. Understanding the truth requires that we take the time to research and delve into the details of events and not to draw hasty conclusions...”
On the occasion, head of the Episcopal Media Committee Bishop Nabil Al-Andari delivered a speech in which he stated: "The challenge that awaits us is communication through meeting with people, wherever and however they are." This is what His Holiness Pope Francis wrote in his message on the occasion of the Fifty-Fifth World Media Day under the heading "Come and See". The call “Come and see” by Natanyl on the tongue of Philip, as it was mentioned in Saint John’s Bible, is the way of all true human contact. We go, look and live with people, we listen to them and collect facts... The press, in order to communicate reality, has to go where no one goes: the movement and the desire to see, with curiosity, openness and passion. Thus, we have to thank many professionals for their courage and commitment, especially in times of pandemic, risky events, wars and tribulations, journalists, photographers, editors and directors who often work at great risk. "
The Divine mass was followed by a reception and a cocktail in the monastery's salon, where the monastery choir sang to welcome the guests before the speech the president of the Editors Syndicate Mr. Joseph Al-Qasifi gave on behalf of media professionals which he started with: “No one lights a lamp and put it under a bushel. Let your light shine for people. When Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, he meant to say them to journalists and the role it had before it changed with the art of printing, with the life-changing invention of "Gutenberg", and up to the subsequent transformations and developments that lead us to what we now call digital media, and who knows what tomorrow is hiding for us."
He added: "Your annual observance of the World Media Day is a practical translation of the concern that the Universal Church attaches to this essential sector that plays a pivotal role and possesses a lethal weapon in the management of the human community, while directing it towards orbits that determine the fate of humanity as a whole in this or that direction."
“...A media professional is called to be the witness of the truth and to the victory for the oppressed over their oppressor, for the victim over their tyrant, for the hungry, the robbed and for the poor over those who caused their hunger, loss and poverty and deprived them of their daily bread... On this day, we see that media is concerned more than ever with the people and their righteous causes, and with taking the path to the essence of human and moral values, in order to pave the way for people."