Pope Francis thanks Catholic News Service

Friday, Feb. 19, 2021

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis praised Catholic News Service for its work in supporting the Church’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel and in making the truth known, particularly in an era of misinformation.

“We need media that can help people, especially the young, to distinguish good from evil, to develop sound judgments based on a clear and unbiased presentation of the facts, and to appreciate the importance of working for justice, social concord and respect for our common home,” he said in written remarks.

During a private audience in the Domus Sanctae Marthae Feb. 1, the pope thanked the news service for its work and said, “I encourage you to continue fostering dialogue and honest communication between individuals and communities.”

The pope handed his prepared speech to a delegation representing Catholic News Service, which was celebrating its 100th anniversary. The United States bishops founded CNS in 1920, and today, with headquarters in Washington, offices in New York and Rome, and correspondents around the world, CNS continues to provide comprehensive coverage of the Church.

The CNS delegation was led by Cindy Wooden, Rome bureau chief, and included the Rome bureau’s five other staff members. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing travel restrictions kept the delegation limited to those already residing in Rome.

As is often his custom, Pope Francis handed out, rather than reading out loud, his written remarks to allow for a more informal encounter, which lasted 45 minutes.

In his written message, the pope said in part, “... Catholic News Service has provided an invaluable contribution to the English-speaking world through its coverage of the Church’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.”