From two popes to journos
Two popes have some reminders.
'In our different roles and services, never give in to mediocrity. The church must face the challenges posed by the times.
"In the same way, communication and journalism do not exist outside of time and history.
"Saint Augustine reminds us of this when he said, 'Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times.'' – Pope Leo XIV's address to the media on May 12, 2025.
Mark that word: mediocrity.
Only four days into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV, 69, the first United States-born and Augustinian pope, found time to meet with members of the international media – not only to acknowledge their special coverage and backbreaking work that lasted from Holy Week to the death and funeral of Pope Francis, and then keeping vigil while the conclave to elect the new pope was going on – but, more importantly, to deliver a message so distinctly written for the media.
The first words newly elected Pope Leo XIV exclaimed on the balcony facing thousands at St. Peter's Square were greetings of peace.
'Peace be to all of you,' Jesus' own words after His resurrection.
The new pope's first words to members of the international media were also about peace.
'In the Sermon on the Mount,' he began, 'Jesus proclaimed: 'Blessed are the peacemakers' (Matthew 5:9). This is a Beatitude that challenges all of us, but it is particularly relevant to you, calling each one of you to strive for a different kind of communication ... we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.'
While I was reading the full text of his address (a little more than 800 words, the length of an Inquirer column piece), I imagined him writing it himself in the dead of night, aware that he would be facing communicators, storytellers, and truth-tellers of different stripes who, like him, have come from the trenches.
It was therefore not a surprise when in his second paragraph, he expressed 'the church's solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth, while also asking for their release.'
I thought of 26-year-old journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who has been languishing in a Tacloban City detention cell for five years now, facing terrorism charges.
'The church recognises in these witnesses – I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives – the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices.
"The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations, and the international community calls on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and the press.'
The new pope stressed that 'communication is not only the transmission of information, it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion.'
He noted the 'immense potential' of artificial intelligence, which, he said, 'nevertheless requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all so that it can benefit all of humanity.'
Pope Leo XIV did not miss out on Pope Francis' own message for this year's World Day of Social Communications: 'Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism, and even hatred, let us free it from aggression.
"We do not need loud, forceful communication but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.'
When Pope Francis honoured two veteran Vatican journalists in 2021, he gave the exhortation 'Listen, deepen, tell.'
'Your mission is to explain the world,' he said, 'to make it less dark, to make those who live there fear it less and look at others with greater awareness and also with more confidence ...
"It is difficult to think, meditate, deepen, stop to collect ideas and to study the contexts and precedents of a news item. The risk, you know well, is that of letting oneself be crushed by the news instead of being able to make sense of it.
'This is why I encourage you to preserve and cultivate that sense of mission, which is at the origin of your choice.
"And I do it with three verbs that I think can characterise good journalism: listen, deepen, tell.'
For truth-tellers, here's one from St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D): 'The truth is like a lion; you don't have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.'
I hear a leonine roar.
Mabuhay si (Long live) Pope Leo XIV at si +Pope Francis! — Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Trump unveils Japan trade deal with 15pc export tariff, vows ‘hundreds of thousands of jobs'
WASHINGTON, July 23 — President Donald Trump said yesterday that the United States had agreed to a 'massive' trade deal with Japan that would include a 15 per cent tariff on its exports. The two countries have been locked in negotiations for months since Trump launched his global trade offensive, with levies targeting steel and automobiles—both important Japanese exports—seen as particular sticking points. Trump had previously threatened Japan, a major US trading partner, with a tariff of 25 per cent beginning August 1 if a deal was not reached. 'We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made,' Trump announced on his Truth Social platform. He said that under the deal, 'Japan will invest, at my direction, US$550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90 per cent of the Profits.' He did not provide further details on the unusual investment plan, but claimed the deal 'will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs.' Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that he needed to examine the deal before commenting. 'As for what to make of the outcome of the negotiations, I am not able to discuss it until after we carefully examine the details of the negotiations and the agreement,' Ishiba told reporters in Tokyo after Trump's announcement in Washington. Rice imports? Japan has agreed to 'open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things,' Trump said. Rice imports are a sensitive issue in Japan, and Ishiba's government had previously ruled out any concessions on the topic. Japan's Nikkei index bounced over one percent on news of the deal, with Japanese auto stocks rising six percent. The deal comes after Ishiba faced a bruising weekend election that left his coalition without a majority in the upper house. Trump has been under pressure to wrap up trade pacts after promising a flurry of deals ahead of his August 1 tariff deadline. Earlier yesterday, he announced a deal had been reached with the Philippines which would see the country face 19 per cent tariffs on its exports. The White House also laid out details of a deal with Indonesia, which would see it ease critical mineral export restrictions and also face a 19 per cent tariff. Similar agreements have been struck with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, while negotiations are ongoing with the top three largest US trading partners, China, Canada and Mexico. After an escalatory tit-for-tat with Beijing, the two major economies agreed to a temporary lowering of tariffs, with another round of negotiations expected next week in Stockholm. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed a sweeping 10 per cent tariff on allies and competitors alike, alongside steeper levels on steel, aluminum and autos. Legal challenges to Trump's non-sectoral tariffs are ongoing. — AFP
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
A sweet hit in New Zealand
JOHOR BARU: Johor is looking to tap into New Zealand's growing interest in tropical fruits from Malaysia, especially the MD2 pineapple variety, as part of efforts to expand its agricultural exports. State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said the opportunity arose during a recent working visit to the island nation with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said he was part of the Malaysian delegation where they met with New Zealand's Agriculture, Forestry, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay at the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington. 'McClay expressed strong interest in Malaysia's halal industry and welcomed closer strategic ties not only in halal certification, but also to position Malaysia as a gateway to the Asean market, which has over 600 million people.' He said McClay was receptive about Malaysian agricultural produce, particularly tropical fruits like pineapples, and had opened the door for investment opportunities for Malaysian companies in New Zealand. Zahari said Ahmad Zahid had suggested that Johor take the lead in seizing the opportunity. 'I will hold discussions with entrepreneurs and relevant agencies to explore this potential further,' he said. Zahari said Johor has 10,558ha of pineapple plantations, producing 347,490 metric tonnes annually, with an estimated value of RM920mil. 'Despite this, our production is still unable to meet the increasing demand from Europe, the Middle East and other international markets,' he said. Zahari also said that during the trip there, he met with a Simpang Renggam-born entrepreneur who has been running a business in New Zealand for about 18 years. 'During the meeting, we discussed the potential for snack products from Johor to get into the New Zealand market.' He said a series of follow-up meetings would be held with government agencies under the Johor Agricultural Export Market Strengthening Committee to explore the opportunity in greater detail. Zahari also highlighted Johor's achievements in the agro-based industry (IAT) sector with the state recording 1,604 registered IAT entrepreneurs last year. 'Johor-based IAT entrepreneurs accounted for 27% of the national total under the Agriculture Department. 'That same year, our IAT sector recorded nearly RM348.2mil in sales, which contributed to 29% of Malaysia's total sales,' he said.
Malay Mail
19 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Why it's hard for Malaysia to win a trade deal with the US — Phar Kim Beng
JULY 22 — Trade negotiations with the United States have never been easy. But under President Donald Trump's second term, they've become even more complicated — especially for countries similar to Malaysia. The reason is simple: the US doesn't merely seek mutual benefit; it aims to dominate. And its primary tool is tariffs. When the US imposes or threatens tariffs on exports — whether agricultural products, medical devices, automotive parts, or digital services — it forces countries into a reactive posture. Although Malaysia's electronics and semiconductor exports are currently exempted from punitive tariffs, this should not be taken as a sign of safety or favour. Exemptions can be reversed. The threat is part of a broader tactic to compel compliance across all sectors. This form of pressure is especially difficult for economies analogous with Malaysia — those heavily reliant on trade, but without the strategic weight to push back effectively. Trade talks are not one-dimensional. Malaysia must negotiate externally with Washington, while internally managing the political fallout among industry groups, lawmakers, and civil society. It's what scholars call a 'double-level game'. No Malaysian government can accept every US demand without inviting domestic resistance. Yet pushing back may invite retaliation. And the US, under Trump, has shown no hesitation to act unilaterally — even toward long-standing allies. The Philippines, despite its security alignment with the US, is still facing 20% tariffs. If they are not spared, Malaysia should not expect preferential treatment. The essence of the American trade posture is to leave very little room for sovereignty. Washington increasingly challenges regulatory frameworks — in food safety, environmental protection, digital governance, and labour conditions — as disguised protectionism. Countries akin to Malaysia are pushed toward a binary choice: either deregulate completely or allow American goods to enter tariff-free, regardless of local concerns. This isn't negotiation. It's economic coercion under the cover of trade diplomacy. An aerial view picture of the port of Santos, the largest port complex in Latin America and one of the largest in the world, taken on July 17, 2025, in Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. — AFP pic Malaysia cannot count on ASEAN's collective response this time. With the August 1 tariff deadline fast approaching, regional coordination is nearly impossible. Even though electronics and semiconductors — the lifeblood of Malaysia's exports — are spared for now, the broader system is still under threat. If the US shifts its focus to value-added manufacturing, digital services, or intellectual property rights enforcement, Malaysia could quickly become a new target. Some may argue that zero-tariff deals from the US represent an opportunity. But even such arrangements come with strings attached. They open Malaysia's markets while keeping US regulatory levers intact. It's akin to opening your doors wide and hoping the guest will do the same. But the guest holds all the keys. This is why Malaysia faces a structural challenge. To resist is to risk retaliation. To comply is to erode policy autonomy. And even in sectors currently shielded from tariffs, the climate of uncertainty deters investment and long-term planning. Ultimately, the US does not just trade. It disciplines. Its trade strategy is consistent with its broader foreign policy logic — hierarchical, transactional, and unapologetically self-interested. Countries parallel with Malaysia in scale and exposure are forced to adapt constantly or face exclusion. There are no easy answers. But clarity is a start. Malaysia must accept that the US no longer views trade as mutual gain, but as leverage. In response, Malaysia must invest in domestic resilience, seek supply chain diversification, deepen South-South linkages, and work toward a coalition of likeminded economies that still believe in rules-based trade. Because when the rules are rewritten by one player, and the game is played with two sets of standards, the only real protection is strategic alignment — with partners who understand that fairness is not just about tariffs, but trust. In approaching August 1 — the day when the US will impose a tax of 25 per cent on most major Malaysian items — the trade negotiators of Malaysia must understand that embedded into Trump's logic of tariff is also the pernicious American demand, invariably imposed on Malaysia, to keep buying American goods. Only by buying, such as going beyond the 30 Boeing airliners that had been bought by the Malaysian Airline System (MAS) and AirAsia, can Malaysia work with the US towards a zero-tariff barrier. * Phar Kim Beng is a professor of Asean Studies and director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies at the International Islamic University of Malaysia ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
