The Catholic Church will mark its 59th World Communications Day on Sunday, 1st June 2025, with the theme: “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts” (cf. 1 Peter 3:15-16).
Established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 following the Second Vatican Council, World Communications Day is celebrated annually on the Sunday before Pentecost. It invites Catholics worldwide to reflect on the opportunities and challenges presented by the media, and to discern how the Church can more effectively share the Gospel message in today’s world.
This year’s celebration carries special weight, as it draws on the final message written by Pope Francis before his death. In his address for the day, Pope Francis recognised the turbulent media landscape of our time — an age marked by disinformation, polarisation, and manipulation by powerful interests. Yet, rather than retreating into cynicism, the late Pope called on communicators to take up the courageous mission of becoming “communicators of hope.”
Reflecting on the Jubilee Year of Grace, Pope Francis urged all involved in communication — journalists, media professionals, and ordinary believers — to embrace a style of communication shaped by gentleness, respect, and closeness. He warned against the dangers of communication that stirs up fear, resentment, and hatred or reduces reality to simplistic slogans. Instead, he called for a “disarming” of communication, making room for patience, empathy, and the search for goodness even in difficult or divided situations.
“Hope is not passive optimism,” Pope Francis reminded the world, “but a ‘performative’ virtue capable of changing our lives.” Quoting Saint Peter, he encouraged believers to always be ready to give an account of their hope — but to do so with gentleness and reverence, following the model of Jesus, the great communicator who walked alongside others, listened to their stories, and inspired hearts.
As the Church prepares to celebrate this day, Catholics are invited to renew their commitment to telling stories that heal, build bridges, and nurture a culture of encounter. Pope Francis’ final message challenges us all to “be witnesses and promoters of a non-aggressive communication; help to spread a culture of care, build bridges, and break down the visible and invisible barriers of the present time.”
World Communications Day 2025 is not just a celebration for media professionals — it is a call for every Catholic to reflect on how they share the hope within their hearts, not only through words, but through the way they listen, accompany, and walk alongside others, in the spirit of the Gospel.
