continue to "spread the Truth" around the globe, a reference to his late predecessor who was known as the Great Communicator. Speaking at his first audience with journalists in Vatican City since being elected Tuesday, April 19, the pontiff said he was also talking in the name of "the unforgettable Pope John Paul II", when addressing the responsibility of media.
He said the former pope had helped the Catholic Church to formulate a fresh media policy in one of his last documents in January saying that the "current development of communications pushes the Church toward a pastoral review."
APPLAUSE
His words were often interrupted by applause, although it was unclear what "pastoral review" would mean in practice. Catholic officials agree that the new 78-year year old German born pope, who was previously known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, will have to communicate "Holy See views" in an era of pressure on the church to change its position on issues such as anti conception at a time when AIDS spreads worldwide.
There are also ongoing discussions in especially the United States and Europe about ordaining women and married men as priests, to combat a dramatic shortfall in Catholic clergy.
However the new pontiff has in the past already expressed ‘pro-life’ opinions and expressed concern about issues such as the high number of abortions and euthanasia cases, and he is known as a ‘conservative’ sharing many of the views of Pope John Paul II.
The pontiff, who addressed the crowd in several languages, including his native German as well as English and Italian, said he was aware of the challenges ahead but also suggested he would live up to the Second Vatican Council, a document and process of the 1960’s speaking of both renewal and traditions within the Catholic Church. It also addresses the “pastoral needs of the Church” and welcomes "Ecumenical dialogue with non- catholic Christians and with Orthodox Churches…"
"SERVICE"
He thanked journalists for their "service to the Holy See and The Vatican" and said he realized their work in recent weeks had put strain on their families. The pope also blessed the at least hundreds of media workers present in the auditorium of Vatican City.
On Sunday, April 24, half a million pilgrims were expected to attend his inauguration mass in Vatican City.
Hotels in the Rome area were reportedly sold out ahead of the event. And ‘Pilgrimage travel agencies’ in Hungary and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe earlier reported their largest turnover since the collapse of Communism in 1989.
