The Roman Press Association, Italy’s most important labor union in the sector, celebrated its 125th anniversary by conferring the honor on the Pope today.
Association secretary Silvia Garambois explained that the award is in recognition of «a great communicator of freedom, of all freedoms: of the freedom of faith and thought as well as of journalism.»
She said that freedom of information is, for John Paul II, «an instrument of democracy.» This is why on Nov. 9 he appealed for «clear and just rules [in the media system] that guarantee pluralism, freedom, participation and respect of the users.»
«These words represent for us the way we wish to follow,» Garambois said.
