During an April 3 interview on "Meet the Press," Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, recalled something Pope John Paul II said to Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore when he asked the Holy Father if it was okay if a television camera could be there for a presentation he was making to the pope.

"The pope," noted Archbishop Foley, "said, 'If it doesn't happen on television, it doesn't happen.'"

The pope, Archbishop Foley said, realized the importance of television, so much so that on Jan. 24 --- to mark the 40th anniversary of the Vatican II document, Inter Mirifica on Social Communications --- he issued an Apostolic Letter stressing the importance of communications, released in the weeks between his two hospitalizations. This last major document of the pope dealt with "the rapid development" of the technologies and techniques of communicating.

In this letter, Archbishop Foley noted, the pope said that people are living in an environment of communication "and we have to become accustomed to that; to be careful of the dangers, of course, but also to learn to use these media of communications and live with them in order to enrich and unify individuals around the world."

Teaching on communication

From the very beginning of his long pontificate, Pope John Paul II wrote continually about communications through the media, between persons, and through the arts, from the theater to the cinema. By the Jubilee year 2000 he had given eight speeches on the cinema alone. That same year, he set aside a day to commemorate journalists (June 4) and another to honor the world of entertainment (Dec. 17).

I was present at the day for journalists. The pope gave his speech and, as he was walking off the stage, he lifted up his cane and shook it at us. The whole audience went wild and he did it again; the people loved it. Angelenos Jack Shea, past president of the Directors Guild of America, and his Emmy-award winning screenwriter wife, Patt, represented Hollywood at the event for entertainers.

From 1979 through 2005, John Paul II issued annual messages for World Communications Day dealing with such diverse topics as "Social Communications and the Problems of the Elderly" (1982), "The Christian Message in a Computer Culture" (1990) and "The Communications Media at the Service of Authentic Peace" in 2003. Almost every major document and encyclical he issued integrated a reflection or teaching on communications and media.

For the new millennium

This is especially notable in his Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Inuente issued at the close of the Jubilee Year in 2000.

The document is rooted in a theology of communication that takes life from the Holy Trinity and continues through history in the community of believers. Almost every paragraph of this document refers to communication as theology, spirituality, or dialogue between persons and nations, and an on-going conversation between faith and culture.

Among John Paul II's writings, my personal favorite is his description of the world of communications in his 1990 encyclical letter, Redemptoris Missio ("The Mission of the Redeemer" (n. 37.c). His words inspired me to go a step further in the communications apostolate of my religious community of the Daughters of St. Paul and pursue a degree in education in media studies and media literacy. His clarity of thought about culture and faith touched on how people search for and make meaning from the media and how we in the faith community can become critical viewers and mindful, responsible producers of media:

"There is a deeper reality involved here: since the very evangelization of modern culture depends to a great extent on the influence of the media, it is not enough to use the media simply to spread the Christian message and the Church's authentic teaching. It is also necessary to integrate this message into the new culture created by modern communications."

The pope as communicator

Pope John Paul II began his faith journey as a poet, playwright, actor and author. Two of his plays were made into films: "The Jeweler's Shop" (1988) and "Our God's Brother" (1997). Communicating through artistic experiences led him to develop a profoundly integrated philosophy and Christian vision of the human person. He communicated these ideas consistently in his life, his written and spoken words, the gestures, and actions captured by so many photographs and television broadcasts.

John Paul II will be remembered as a pastor, a teacher, a father, a leader. He showed us how to pray and how to be Christ acting in the world. This was never truer than when he was with youth and children. His face reflected good humor and joy, his words and gestures proclaimed that Christ is our hope. For the pope the essence of communication was always authentic love, thus he connected with young people on emotional and spiritual levels that got their attention in ways many celebrities can only imagine.

As commentators have noted, his way of communicating brought great clarity to the teachings of Jesus. From the beginning of his papacy he communicated the dignity of the human person by linking human freedom and responsibility with the principles of Catholic social teaching. With Vatican Council II he acknowledged that the media are gifts of God to be used for the good of humanity.

In his final, official written communication with the world, John Paul II called the communications media "marvelous." May his legacy of authentic communication continue to inspire us in whatever ministry we are called to fulfill during our earthly sojourn.

Daughter of St. Paul Sister Rose Pacatte is the director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Culver City, and the co-author of "Lights, Camera, Faith: A Movie Lectionary." For books and videos on Pope John Paul II, contact Pauline Books and Media, (310) 397-8676.