Understanding Pope Francis' World Communications Day Messages for Intercultural Communication Competencies in a Digital, Globalized World: A Quantitative Study

This study examines the significance of Pope Francis' World Communications Day Messages in enhancing the intercultural communication competencies of various stakeholders in the information and communications fields, including journalists, media professionals, opinion editors, educators, pastors, pastoral workers, and the general public. Through a quantitative and conceptual content analysis of his World Communications Day texts (N=11) released from January 2014 to January 2024, we identified three core competencies: embracing a faith-based perspective of reality, cultivating empathetic listening, and communicating truthful information and content with charity in a multicultural context. The findings highlight the critical role of Pope Francis' messages in fostering these competencies. Moreover, they provide actionable insights and clear guidance for their intended audiences, offering practical strategies for engaging in constructive forms of communication, such as open dialogue, active listening, and respectful disagreement, which counteract prejudice, encourage a culture of encounter, and promote positive interactions.