Beirut: A press conference was held on Thursday at the Catholic Media Center on the topic of "His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's Message on the Occasion of the 60th World Communications Day." The event was attended by Minister of Information, Attorney Dr. Paul Morcos; Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Media, Bishop Mounir Khairallah; and Director of Catholic Media Center, Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm. Also present were Chairman of the National Audio-visual Media Council, Abdel Hadi Mahfouz; President of the Maronite General Council, Michel Matta; Director General of the Ministry of Information, Dr. Hassan Falha; along with scores of media professionals.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, Monsignor Abu Kassem, in his opening speech, welcomed the attendees and highlighted "the importance of the Pope's message in these difficult circumstances that Lebanon is going through," urging media outlets to maintain dialogue among the Lebanese. Bishop Khairallah spoke about Pope Leo XIV's annual message titled 'Preserving Human Faces and Voices,' emphasizing the unique identity expressed through human faces and voices.
Minister Morcos addressed the power of media, stating, "A word can either serve as a crown that honors the mind, reason, and the heart, or as a blow that demolishes the foundations of human relationships." He stressed the foundational role of love in communication and urged responsible use of media freedom, noting Lebanon's improvement in the World Press Freedom Index from rank 140 to 115 since President Joseph Aoun's term began.
Morcos further called for prioritizing reason and wisdom in communication, pointing out the destructive potential of words, especially during times of war. He emphasized the message of both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV on the 'humanization of communication' and the media's responsibility.
Abdelhadi Mahfouz also underscored the necessity of wisdom in media conduct during this period. It is noteworthy that Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi will lead a Mass service on the occasion of the 60th World Communications Day on Sunday, May 17, at the Patriarchal See in Bkerke.