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The newly created Cardinal in Ivory Coast has recently charged Catholic Journalists all over the world and in particular in the country of Ivory Coast where he stands as the Father of the Church to play a key role in offering hope to the world sinking daily into hopelessness and depression. Nguessan Marina, who is the Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWSNAGECNY, RECONA in Abidjan, the capital city of Ivory Coast reported this at the Jubilee of World of Communication organized by the Communication department of The Episcopal Conference of this country.

Catholic journalists must embrace their vocation as a mission to give hope, seek and communicate the Truth, and be servants to humanity, Ignace Cardinal Bessi Dogbo of Ivory Coast’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan has said.

In his homily during the Jubilee of the World of Communication in the Archdiocese of Abidjan, Cardinal Dogbo underscored the role of journalists in evangelization, cautioning that the Gospel would remain a “dead letter” without their voices and their pens.

“Without you, without your tongue and your pen, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will remain a dead letter,” the Ivorian Cardinal said during the February 1 Eucharistic celebration at St. Paul Cathedral of Abidjan Archdiocese.

He underscored the need for the media to revive values of solidarity, justice, and humanity, especially in light of the multiple crises facing Africa and the world.

“Your responsibility is great. The words and images you share can transform, heal, or, conversely, divide and destroy. You play a vital role in offering hope and guiding society toward truth,” Cardinal Dogbo said.

He urged journalists to prioritize truth and resist the temptation of sensationalism, misinformation, and corruption.

“In an Africa saturated with bad news, crises, and tensions, journalists have a duty to communicate messages of hope. The Holy Father reminds us that communication must not only inform but also uplift, inspire, and unify,” the Catholic Church leader, who was created Cardinal during the 7 December 2024 Consistory said.

He urged journalists to embrace their role as “pilgrims of hope,” in the spirit of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year amplifying the voices of the marginalized, exposing injustice, and highlighting the beauty and resilience of humanity.

“We must remind the world that Africa is not just a land of war and poverty,” he insisted. “It is a land of rich cultural diversity, talent, joy, and dynamism,” Cardinal Dogbo said.

He added, “Tell the hope, share the hope. We no longer want death; we want to sing of hope.”

With the upcoming presidential elections in Ivory Coast in October 2025, Cardinal Dogbo called on journalists to uphold integrity and avoid manipulation.

“Resist all attempts at corruption and pressure. Avoid anything that could compromise your ethical responsibility towards the nation,” he said.

He emphasized that peace is never guaranteed but must be continuously built.

“Peace requires constant self-discipline and vigilance. Journalists have a duty to recover and consolidate this peace by ensuring truthful and responsible reporting,” Cardinal Dogbo said.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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