Disarming information sharing hope

Tiziana Campisi

The opening of the Jubilee highlighted two essential tools for every journalist: heart and hope. These values resonated in the two inaugural moments of the celebration which took place on Friday, 24 January: the penitential liturgy, led by Fr Giulio Albanese, Director of the Vicariate of Rome’s Office for Social Communications, and the international Mass presided by Cardinal Reina.

In his homily, Cardinal Reina highlighted that the Jubilee shifts the focus from sins committed to the transformative power of God’s forgiveness. He drew attention to Pope Francis’ invitation to be “communicators of hope” and to “disarm communication”. Reflecting on the Gospel account of the woman caught in adultery, Cardinal Reina noted that, faced with a scandalous situation, Jesus chose the path of gentle communication and avoided aggression. When Jesus said, “who among you is without sin, cast the first stone”, he disarmed pride and invited reflection, the Cardinal said. “To disarm communication, he added, “we must first disarm our pride”. The Cardinal concluded his homily by reflecting on Jesus’ words to the woman: “Go and sin no more”. These words, he said, encapsulate hope and point to a future of transformation. This act of mercy, he noted, was the woman’s personal Jubilee.

Cardinal Reina urged communicators to “adopt this paradigm, embracing a style of communication that recognizes the dignity of every human being and fosters care for our common home”.

The penitential liturgy that preceded the Mass began with readings from Spes Non Confundit, Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction for the 2025 Jubilee. The liturgy invited communicators to reflect on the hope that resides in every heart and to embrace the path of conversion. Fr Albanese encouraged communicators to view their profession as a mission field, where conversion cannot be separated from professional life, and cautioned them against becoming “mercenaries of others’ words”. Urging participants to ensure their communication is a reflection of God’s love and charity, Fr Albanese challenged communicators to examine whether their work expresses the charity of God or is driven by worldly motives.