"GOD'S COMPASSION"

What we say and how we say it, our every word and gesture, ought to express God's compassion, tenderness and forgiveness for all.

BUILDING BRIDGES

Communication has the power to build bridges, to enable encounter and inclusion, and thus to enrich society. How beautiful it is when people select their words and actions with care, in the effort to avoid misunderstanding, to heal wounded memories and to build peace and harmony. Words can build bridges between individuals and within families, social groups and peoples.

"CONSTANT ENCOURAGEMENT"

The words of Christians ought to be a constant encouragement to communion and, even in those cases where they must firmly condemn evil, they should never try to rupture relationships and communication.

NEVER LOSES HOPE

Our political and diplomatic language would do well to be inspired by mercy, which never loses hope.

MEASURING STICK

The Gospel of John tells us that "the truth will make you free"... The truth is ultimately Christ Himself, whose gentle mercy is the yardstick for measuring the way we proclaim the truth and condemn injustice.

TRUTH AND LOVE

Our primary task is to uphold the truth with love... Only words spoken with love and accompanied by meekness and mercy can touch our sinful hearts. Harsh and moralistic words and actions risk further alienating those whom we wish to lead to conversion and freedom, reinforcing their sense of rejection and defensiveness.

COMMUNICATION AND SHARING

Communicating means sharing, and sharing demands listening and acceptance. Listening is more than simply hearing. Hearing is about receiving information, while listening is about communication and calls for closeness.

POSITIVE COMMUNICATION

The encounter between communication and mercy will be fruitful to the degree that it generates a closeness which cares, comforts, heals, accompanies and celebrates.

ONE HUMAN FAMILY

In a broken, fragmented and polarized world, to communicate with mercy means to help create a healthy, free and fraternal closeness between the children of God and all our brothers and sisters in the one human family.

(Source: Message for World Communications Day, 1/24/2016)