Pope Warns Against Modern ‘Towers of Babel,’ Calls for Gospel Communication

By Samson Adeyanju
Pope Francis has cautioned against the rise of modern “towers of Babel,” where communication is abundant but true understanding is lacking.
Addressing bishops, priests, religious, and lay media professionals at the Vatican, the Holy Father urged Catholic communicators to resist the temptation of superficial messaging and instead foster meaningful dialogue rooted in faith and truth.
Reflecting on the fractured state of global discourse, the Pope emphasized the urgent need for a communication model that promotes unity rather than division.
“They all spoke but did not understand one another,” he said, drawing a parallel between the biblical story of Babel and today’s world of mass media, where misinformation and ideological echo chambers hinder genuine connection.
The Pontiff called on Catholic communicators to reject mere corporate-style messaging and instead embrace their mission as evangelizers who spread hope, healing, and truth.
“Communicating is not a tactic or technique—it is an act of love,” he stated, urging them to create networks of goodness rather than platforms of self-promotion.
Highlighting the role of technology, Pope Francis acknowledged the potential of digital tools and artificial intelligence but warned against idolizing them.
“What worries me more than artificial intelligence is natural intelligence,” he remarked, stressing the need for wisdom and ethical discernment in media practices.
He left his audience with two guiding principles: “together” and “network.”
Only by working collaboratively, he said, can Catholic media build a communication model that fosters understanding, promotes Gospel values, and resists the chaotic noise of modern Babel.
Encouraging communicators to persevere, he urged them to be voices of truth in a fragmented world.
“Go forward with courage and the joy that comes from evangelizing,” he concluded, reminding them of their call to be bridges of unity rather than contributors to confusion.