Vatican City, Jan 23, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Pope made public today his message for the 39th Day of Social Communications which is due to be held on May 8, 2005, on the theme: "The Communications Media: at the service of understanding among peoples."
The event will be held on the Feast of St. Francis of Sales, patron saint of journalists.
Extracts from the message - which was published in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese - are given below:
"The theme chosen for the 2005 World Communications Day - "The Communications Media: at the service of understanding among peoples" - addresses an urgent need: to promote the unity of the human family."