The Catholic perspective on social communication in the pontificate of John Paul II

Sánchez-Camacho, Jesús (author)

This study explores the social teaching of the Catholic Church on communication during the pontificate of John Paul II, placing it within the broader historical development of Christian reflection on the media. It analyses key magisterial documents – encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, World Communications Day messages, and texts from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications – highlighting how media serve the human person and the common good when guided by truth, ethics, and dignity. The study addresses major themes such as the meaning of media in society, ethical challenges, principles of Christian communication, the digital revolution, the theological-pastoral foundation of communication, and the need for integrated pastoral planning. It emphasizes the importance of responsible media use, digital formation, cultural dialogue, and inclusive participation. While centred on the contributions of John Paul II, this study is intended to complement prior analyses of other pontificates and invites further research on communication and digitalization during the pontificate of Pope Francis.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Christian social thought, practical theology, media, digital culture
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 97-128
• Numbering: Letn. 80, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177636
• UDC: 27-1Janez Pavel II.:316.77
• ISSN on article: 2335-4127
• DOI: 10.34291/Edinost/80/02/Sanchez
• COBISS.SI-ID: 262227971
• Publication date in RUL: 30.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Edinost in dialog : revija za ekumensko teologijo in medreligijski dialog = Unity and dialogue : journal for ecumenical theology and interreligious dialogue
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Enota v Mariboru in Inštitut Stanka Janežiča za dogmatično, osnovno in ekumensko teologijo ter religiologijo in dialog
• ISSN: 2335-4127
• COBISS.SI-ID: 268194560

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Katoliški pogled na družbeno komuniciranje v pontifikatu Janeza Pavla II.

Abstract

Študija obravnava družbeni nauk Katoliške cerkve o komuniciranju v času pontifikata Janeza Pavla II. ter ga umešča v širši zgodovinski razvoj krščanskega razmišljanja o medijih. Analizira temeljne cerkvene dokumente – okrožnice, apostolske spodbude, poslanice ob svetovnem dnevu sredstev družbenega obveščanja in besedila Papeškega sveta za družbeno komuniciranje – ter izpostavlja, kako mediji služijo človeku in skupnemu dobremu, kadar jih vodijo resnica, etika in človeško dostojanstvo. Študija se osredotoča na glavne teme, kot so pomen medijev v družbi, etični izzivi, načela krščanskega komuniciranja, digitalna revolucija, teološko-pastoralni temelji komuniciranja in potreba po celostnem pastoralnem načrtovanju. Poudarja pomen odgovorne uporabe medijev, digitalne vzgoje, kulturnega dialoga in vključujočega sodelovanja. Čeprav se osredinja na prispevek Janeza Pavla II., želi študija dopolniti prejšnje analize drugih pontifikatov in spodbuditi nadaljnje raziskovanje o komuniciranju in digitalizaciji v času papeža Frančiška.

• Keywords: krščanski družbeni nauk, praktična teologija, mediji, digitalna kultura