杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

杏MAP导航 Francis is known to be a great communicator. But on Monday morning in the Vatican he gave an example of communication skills that surprised even those whose job it is to communicate him and his message throughout the world.

Communicating from the heart

The 杏MAP导航 began by playfully suggesting that his 鈥渟even-page discourse鈥� (which was really only three) risked putting his audience to sleep. Which is why he preferred to talk to them informally about communication, in terms of what was 鈥渋n his heart鈥�.

Communicating without holding back

杏MAP导航 Francis reminded members of the Dicastery that communication begins with an attitude: that of God who communicates Himself to us. In the same way, true communicators give of themselves, he said, 鈥減utting all your irons on the fire鈥�, and holding back nothing. 

Communicating holistically

The 杏MAP导航 stressed the need to communicate 鈥渁ll that is true, just, good, and beautiful鈥�. This must be done, he said, using 鈥渕ind and heart, heads and hands 鈥� everything鈥�. It is in love, he added, that we see the fullness of communication.

Communicating not proselytizing

杏MAP导航 Francis was firm about not engaging in a 鈥渃ommercial鈥� style of communication that sets out to proselytize, or forcibly convert people. He quoted 杏MAP导航 emeritus Benedict XVI who once said, 鈥渢he Church does not grow by proselytizing, but through witnessing鈥�. 

Communicating by witnessing

Communicating the Truth, means witnessing with your own life, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淏eing Christian means being witnesses, being martyrs鈥�. He recalled the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, who said: 鈥淧reach the Gospel at all times. And when necessary, use words鈥�. Witness, said the 杏MAP导航, must always come first. Ours is a Church of martyrs, he added.

Communication not resignation 

杏MAP导航 Francis also warned against the temptation of 鈥渞esignation鈥�. Resignation, he said, does not reflect love for God. It exists in the pagan world, and Jesus Himself warns His disciples against the danger of 鈥渨orldliness鈥�. Do not fear 鈥渁 Church of the few鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, as long as we are like 鈥渟alt, like yeast鈥�.

Communicating using nouns

杏MAP导航 Francis called for a communication that uses 鈥渘ouns rather than adjectives鈥�. Nouns identify people and things. Rather than using an adjective to describe a person as 鈥渢his or that鈥�, nouns communicate 鈥渢he reality of people鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, and this is what Christian communicators are called to do.

Communicating beautifully

The 杏MAP导航 suggested a style of communication that is 鈥渁ustere but beautiful鈥�. Not a 鈥淩ococo鈥� kind of beauty, he said, but a beauty that expresses itself 鈥渢hrough nouns鈥�, through 鈥渨itness鈥�, through involving oneself in communication.

Communicating the joy of the Gospel

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his off-the-cuff remarks saying communicators should learn the language of the martyrs and the Apostles by rereading the Acts of the Apostles and the writings of the early Christian community. 鈥淐ommunicate the joy of the Gospel鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, because 鈥渢hat is what God is asking you to do鈥�.

Then he stood up and personally greeted each and every member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communications present at the audience.

All 500 of us.