A group of journalists and media experts from The Holy Land Review met Pope Francis for a private audience at the Vatican. They were accompanied by Fr. Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land.
-“We present ourselves here today, thanking you.”
The Pope began his address by apologizing for remaining seated due to pain in his leg, possibly a flare-up of sciatica.
He encouraged journalists to use social media to tell stories capable of building community and fraternity.
POPE FRANCIS
'I encourage you to tell the story of fraternity that is possible: the fraternity between Christians of Churches and confessions that are unfortunately still separated, but which in the Holy Land are often already close to unity, as I have had the opportunity to see. Tell of the fraternity that is possible among all the children of Abraham: Jews, Christians and Muslims.'
The Holy Land Review is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Pope Francis thanked its journalists for going out to encounter people where and how they are, even in conflict zones.
POPE FRANCIS
'You do not limit yourselves to the most peaceful territories, but also visit the most difficult and suffering realities, like Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Gaza. I know that you seek to present stories of good, those of active resistance to the evils of war, those of reconciliation, those of restoring the dignity of children who have been robbed of their childhood.'
Pope Francis took the opportunity to express his closeness to Christians in the Holy Land and encouraged journalists and communications experts to continue to make their realities known to the rest of the world.
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