EN
The article takes a closer look at Pope Benedict XVI’s message on the media, while setting the Holy Father’s ideas in the general context of media theory. It focuses on key themes emerging from the papal messages: (1) the role of the media in communication and community, (2) the relationship between the media and education, (3) the polarity of silence and word. Starting with the above-mentioned points, it then freely moves on to the question of defining the function and task of the media. The at least partially formed answers to the definitions then meet in the article with reflections on the actual activity of the media in the world. It does not present a comprehensive solution to the conflict between the defined and the actual, nor is it its goal. The ambition of the conclusion is instead an attempt at indicating possible ways of further development of the media space.