VATICAN CITY, MAY 30 (ZENIT.org).
    "We were expecting 700 journalists; however, next Sunday, June 4, 7,000 will come to celebrate the Journalists' Jubilee with the Holy Father," stated Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He did not hide his surprise when attending a press conference this morning to present the Vatican document "Ethics in Social Communications."

    The participants in the Journalists' Jubilee are already arriving in Rome. Some were even present at this morning's news conference to present the new Vatican document. They will be officially received by Archbishop Foley on Thursday afternoon. Shortly thereafter, they will hear an address by Theresa Ee-Chooi, president of the International Catholic Press Union, and then they will go to the Sistine Chapel for recollection and prayer. On Friday they will meet in congress to reflect on the great challenges posed today at all levels of social communications. On Friday afternoon there will be a satellite connection with journalists in other countries.

    All these thousands of journalists will cross the threshold of the Holy Door of the Roman Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on Saturday morning. There they will participate in an ecumenical service, which will include the attendance of journalists from other Christian denominations. The culminating moment of the Jubilee will be on Sunday, when they are received in audience by John Paul II shortly after midday.

    "This large and unexpected participation of journalists in their Jubilee is a sign that reflects a changing tendency in the complex world of means of communication. Increasingly the media are beginning to understand that the public is tired of the habitual 'bad news' and, therefore, are seeking persons who by their work and teaching are an 'example' to the community," Archbishop Foley said.

    "Perhaps it's an effect of the Jubilee Year, but I have the impression that there is ever greater attention on the part of the mass media to good news," Archbishop Foley noted. ZE00053007

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