Pope Francis and the Media: Communicating Sensitive Issues
in the Contemporary Church

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https://doi.org/10.54937/2026.9788056112410.129-133

Autor/ Author: Beáta Dorková

In: DOKOR 2025. Recenzovaný zborník z interdisciplinárnej doktorandskej konferencie

ISBN: 978-80-561-1241-0

Strany/ Page Range: 129-133

Rok vydania/ Publication Year: 2026

Jazyk/ Language: Slovak

Vydavateľ/ Publisher: VERBUM – vydavateľstvo Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku

Abstrakt/ Abstract: The research focuses on Pope Francis' communication in the context of the media, especially when opening and interpreting sensitive socio-religious issues in the contemporary Church. The specific subject of analysis is the Vatican's official communication on LGBT issues and the media attention these topics have received during Pope Francis' pontificate. LGBT issues are an area in which communication plays a fundamental role in shaping public opinion and Church discourse. Since the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has been characterized by language that combines pastoral empathy with media openness. His statements have often been the subject of intense media interest — some interpreted as groundbreaking, others as controversial. The media coverage of his words has often influenced the way the public perceives not only his personal attitudes but also the Vatican's official position on sensitive issues. The aim is to compare Pope Francis' official statements and messages with their media interpretations in order to better understand the communication process between the Church and society. At the same time, the text seeks to show how Francis' style — characterized by simplicity, imagery, and an emphasis on mercy — creates a new model of church communication that seeks to enter into dialogue with the world through the language of compassion and acceptance.

Kľúčové slová/ Keywords: communication, church, media, pope, Vatican

Citácia/ How to cite:

DORKOVÁ, Beáta, 2026. Pápež František a médiá: komunikácia citlivých tém v súčasnej cirkvi. In: DOKOR 2025. Recenzovaný zborník z interdisciplinárnej doktorandskej konferencie. Online. Ružomberok: VERBUM – vydavateľstvo Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku, 2026, s. 129-133. ISBN 978-80-561-1241-0. Dostupné na: https://doi.org/10.54937/2026.9788056112410.129-133

Toto dielo je publikované pod/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.