Dr. Andrea Melodia, president of Italy’s Catholic Press Union (UCSI), accepted the Pauline Communications and Culture Award 2011 on behalf of his organization in a ceremony held on 18 May at the conclusion of a Congress held in preparation for World Communications Day (5 June).
The Congress, organized by the Pauline Communications and Culture Association, the Pastoral Institute “Redemptoris Mater” of the Pontifical Lateran University, and the National Social Communications Office of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), was held in Rome and revolved around the theme chosen by the Holy Father for this year’s WCD: Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age. In bestowing the award, the Pauline Communications and Culture Association praised UCSI’s commitment to fostering ethics among communicators.
The Congress was part of a program of events organized annually by the FSPs and SSPs to help the people of Italy prepare to celebrate WCD in a more profound and meaningful way, in keeping with the directives of the document of CEI: Communication and Mission. The award is conferred on media workers, film directors, journalists, writers, performers or cultural associations that, by their activities, strive to concretize the Pope’s message for World Communications Day.