The Church is not like a Parliament or Congress, with left-wing and right-wing factions, says Pope Francis. While we can fall prey to these "worldly temptations," the Church is not this.
The Pope said this November 13 when he was speaking to two journalists who cover news of the Vatican.
Valentina Alazraki, a Mexican journalist who has been covering Church news for 47 years -- the Pope joked she came on papal flights "straight after her First Communion!" -- and Philip Pullella, an American who works for Reuters, both received recognition for their service.
In giving them their recognition, the Holy Father took advantage to recall a key point about the identity of the Church.
More than a job
Pope Francis' address to the journalists reflected his esteem for the role they carry out. Journalism is about "embarking on a mission" more than choosing a profession, he said, a bit like a doctor, who "studies and works so that the evil in the world may be healed."
"Your mission is to explain the world, to make it less obscure, to make those who live in it less afraid of it and look at others with greater awareness, and also with more confidence," he told them, acknowledging that "it is not an easy mission."
What can you offer not already on the web?
He organized his reflection with three words, as he often does. The words were listen, investigate, and report.
Regarding the second, he pointed out the high mission of a journalist, and particularly in our day:
He also reflected on the importance of reality.
Sexual abuse victims
In this regard, he thanked the journalists for "what you tell us about what goes wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet, and for the voice you have given to the victims of abuse: thank you for this."
