The pope asked humility to foreign chroniclers …

From Rome

"Humility can be a fundamental part of your profession because a modest journalist does not mean mediocre but rather aware that an article, a tweet, a television or radio directive can be well done but also, if not it is scrupulous to hurt the neighbor and sometimes to a whole community, "said Pope Francis yesterday to 150 journalists from the Foreign Press Association of Rome and Milan, received for the first time by the Argentine pontiff at the Vatican.

"You (journalists) must always consider the power of the instrument you have and resist the temptation to publish insufficiently verified information," added Pope Francisco, smiling and affable with journalists and their families. 300 people And always in reference to the humility, the central argument of his speech – the headquarters of the Association of Foreign Journalists of Rome lies by chance on Via dell & # 39; Umilta & # 39; (street humility) – the pope stressed that a "humble journalist know the facts correctly and as completely as possible before counting and commenting them". According to Francisco, nowadays, especially in social networks where many use "violent and derogatory languages, with words hurtful and destroying people", you must calibrate the use of the language and use it as the surgeon does with the scalpel. "In addition, with the widespread spread of false news," humility prevents you from unloading rotten food from misinformation and invites you to offer the good bread of truth. "Speaking in the room of clementines of the apostolic palace where he was accompanied, inter alia, by the prefect of the Pontifical House, Mgr. Georg Gänswein, the pope added: "The humble journalist is a free journalist, free from constraints, without prejudices and consequently courageous Freedom requires courage. "

In conclusion, Francisco spoke of the freedom of the press. "It is an important indicator of the health of a country, because we must not forget that one of the first measures taken by dictatorships is to eliminate the freedom of press and expression or to conceal it. That is why we need journalists who are on the side of the victims, on the side of those who are persecuted, on the side of those who are excluded, scrapped, discriminated against, you and your work need to help us not to forget so many situations of suffering that often do not have the spotlight or have already had it, but have returned to the blackness of indifference, "he said. . And he gave as an example the forgotten wars, of which few speak but which still exist, or the stories of those who were forced to flee their country as a result of natural disasters, wars, terrorism, hunger and thirst. . And tacitly alludes to the thousands of migrants who arrive in Europe by sea and die in the attempt. "We must not forget this Mediterranean which is becoming a cemetery," he said.

The pope concluded by inviting journalists to be a mirror that reflects hope. "I wish you to be humble and free men and women, who are the ones who have left a mark in history." Francisco then blessed everybody, while stating that, knowing that not everyone was a believer, he would do it in silence, but to all. And so it was in a few seconds. After that, the applause that accompanied several moments of the meeting broke out. Immediately afterwards, each of the badistants pbaded his hand to Francisco, who did not want anyone to bend down or kiss him, as it was used in the past. As a symbolic gesture, they gave him a letter of credence from this badociation of journalists.

The Sala Clementina, where the journalists were received – among whom were several Argentineans of the main media – is an environment dedicated to the reception of numerous bishops' groups of Rome for the omens of Christmas, among others. It was built in the sixteenth century by decision of Pope Clement VIII, in memory of Pope Clement I, third successor of St. Peter in the government of the Church.