The media has to be careful not to "demonise" entire cultures, countries or ethnic groups as it runs the risk of fomenting violence, war and even genocide, Pope John Paul said today.
The Pope
In his message for the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Social Communications, to be celebrated this year on May 8th, the Pope said that today more than ever the media had to be aware of its enormous power to either unite or divide people.
"When others are portrayed in hostile terms, seeds of conflict are sown which can all too easily escalate into violence, war, or even genocide," he said in the written message.
"Instead of building unity and understanding, the media can be used to demonise other social, ethnic and religious groups, fomenting fear and hatred," he said.
The Pope gave no specific examples but in the wake of the September 11th, 2001 attacks and the Iraq war, various media reviews and studies have pointed out the risks of stereotyping from both the Western and Islamic worlds.
"Those responsible for the style and content of what is communicated have a grave duty to ensure that this does not happen," he said.
The Pope said today's media had to take advantage of what he called the "unprecedented possibilities for good" offered by modern technology to spread truth, harmony and reconciliation.
"Accurate knowledge promotes understanding, dispels prejudice, and awakens the desire to learn more. Images especially have the power to convey lasting impressions and to shape attitudes," he said.
The Pope pointed to the media's role in the aftermath of the tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in Asia last month as a prime example of how the media can do good. "It was heartening to see how quickly the international community responded," he said.