The Pope asked the Catholic Church for «more stupor», considering that it is the «antidote against repetitive habit and self-referentiality», although he pointed out that change «does not mean following the fashions of the moment».
«Stupor is the antidote against repetitive habit and self-referentiality. Astonishment carries you forward, makes you change, makes you walk,» the Pope said in his address this morning at the Vatican to the members of the Coordinating Committee of Associations for Communication (Copercom) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its foundation.
Before them, the Pope pointed out that the DNA of a good communicator is «meeting, listening and speaking». Francis considered that «the processes of communication change continuously and rapidly» so he asked them for «‘something more’ in planning and vision».
The pontiff also made it clear that humanity is living more than a time of change, «a change of epoch», although he urged not «to be afraid to allow oneself to be challenged by the challenges and opportunities that the present time proposes».
«In this you should be experts: experts of change,» he emphasized. For the Pope, change, in order to be approached and managed fruitfully, requires «a good educational and formative capacity», for which he invited to look, in particular, to the new generations.
«Be attentive, because change does not mean following the fashions of the moment, but converting one’s way of being and thinking, starting from an attitude of amazement at what does not change and yet is always new,» he said.
The Pope also pointed out that, for there to be an encounter, «sincerity is necessary» and recalled that we often remain «impervious» to the reality of the person in front of us.
«It is a matter of learning to be silent, first of all within oneself, and to respect the other: to respect him not in a formal way, but in fact, by listening to him, because each person is a mystery. Listening is the indispensable ingredient for true dialogue. Only after listening does the word come,» he concluded.
