In a message sent on behalf of Leo XIV on January 21, 2026, Cardinal Pietro Parolin invited Catholic journalists to “say no to the war of words and images.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, writing on behalf of the Pope to Catholic journalists meeting in France, referred to the French priest Father Jacques Hamel, martyred by Islamic terrorists.
This statement was read during the St. Francis de Sales Meeting, organized by the Federation of Catholic Media in Lourdes, France.
The Secretary of State of the Holy See stated that the Pope “appreciated” the theme chosen for these days of dialogue and reflection:
“What responsibilities do Catholic media have in a polarized world?” According to the Italian cardinal, it’s the responsibility of Catholic journalists to find “words that mend the rifts in life” and to be “antennae that pick up and relay what the weak are experiencing.”
Faced with the emergence of artificial intelligence in the field of communication, Cardinal Parolin insists on the need to “return to the reasons of the heart.”
“This urgency finds an answer in the service of truth that Catholic media can offer to everyone, even those who do not believe,” he continued.
An example of dialogue and listening
The message presents Father Jacques Hamel as a “source of inspiration” for Catholic journalists.
This French priest was murdered by Islamist terrorists while celebrating Mass in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray in 2016.
“He always believed in the value of dialogue and mutual and patient listening,” the message reads. “May his example encourage you to be seekers of truth in the love that explains everything.”
AP/FOTOLINK
The Saint Francis de Sales Meeting is held every year in January in partnership with the Dicastery for Communication.
The three-day event brings together French-speaking journalists to reflect on the role of Catholic media in society. The Father Jacques Hamel International Prize is awarded on this occasion. It rewards journalistic work that has highlighted an initiative in favor of peace and interreligious dialogue.
Pope Francis referred to Fr. Hamel as a "martyr." A cause for his beatification opened in 2017.
