Protecting rights of children will bear fruit in a culture of peace, Holy Father says

Rome, Italy, Oct 19, 2009 / 12:29 pm

In a brief greeting to the participants of the SIGNIS World Congress, which began on October 17 in Thailand, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged efforts by those working in communications to promote the rights of children and to make them a priority in their daily work, so that they might bear fruit in a culture of peace.

SIGNIS is an organization dedicated to supporting Catholic communications and promoting human dignity, justice and reconciliation.

In Pope Benedict's  message, published by the News Service of the Archdiocese of Mexico City, the he pointed to “the need for responsible management and use of the media, in its message and in its methods, which attract young people in a particular way.”

Recalling his message for the 41st World Day of Communications in 2007, Benedict XVI noted that participants can view their relationship with the media from two perspectives: the formation of children by the media; and the training of children to respond appropriately to the media.”

The Pope offered his prayers for the promotion of children’s rights and that communicators might make their promotion a priority in their daily work, so that they might bear fruit in a culture of peace.

The SIGNIS World Congress is being held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, October 17-21.