Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus
(John 8:32)
I am delighted to greet and to congrat- ulate all the personnel engaged in the different means of Social Communications in our country, on the World Social Communications Day 2023.
We thank especially those press people who have transformed their work into a real mission and a vocation to transmit the truth that inspires peace, joy, hope, and ethics, avoiding to entertain sensational communications which can lead the public to tensions, mutual hatred, and conflicts.
The priority for the truth makes one feel free and more friendly. But since the truth can sometimes make one or the other feel un- comfortable, we congratulate those agents of Social Communications who opt for the courage to persevere in the pursuit of the truth; and such people are the pioneers of the moral standards of our society.
Pope Francis, however, in his message for this day, reminds us of the law of love, inviting Social communicators to work and speak with the heart. This is what his predecessor, St. Pope John Paul II, called the “splendor of the truth”, in his Encyclical Letter of 6th August 1993 which lies deep in the heart of every man and woman since we are all created to the image and likeness of God. The necessity for the truth with love is perhaps one of the positive aspects we can say the world has gained from the unfortunate Covid-19 pandemic.
The Uganda of tomorrow does not need only better roads to communicate, but also a renewed culture of truth both in politics and in the communication of the faith. One who is committed to the truth, should be aware not to “exchange the truth about God for a lie” and worship the creature rather than God the Creator (Rom. 1: 25). Jesus who is the way, the truth and life said, during the difficult moments of his trial, “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice” (Jn 18: 37).