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Sometimes negative news does come out, but it is often exaggerated and manipulated to spread scandal. Journalists sometimes risk becoming ill from coprophilia and thus fomenting coprophagia: which is a sin that taints all men and women, that is, the tendency to focus on the negative rather than the positive aspects.
Pope Francis
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the tendency of negative news to be exaggerated and emphasizes the importance of focusing on positive aspects of life.

Pope Francis points out how negative news can often be sensationalized and manipulated, leading to a culture that focuses excessively on scandals. He warns that this inclination can harm one's perception and moral outlook, suggesting that it is a sin to dwell predominantly on the negative instead of recognizing the good in life.

Themes

Negative NewsPositivityExaggerationScandalJournalism

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech on media ethics, one might reference this quote to emphasize the responsibility of journalists.

More from Pope Francis

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I join the March for Life in Washington with my prayers. May God help us respect all life, especially the most vulnerable.
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No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas. This is an excuse commonly heard in academic, business or professional, and even ecclesial circles. While it is quite true that the essential vocation and mission of the lay faithful is to strive that earthly realities and all human activity may be transformed by the Gospel, none of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice
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We face so many challenges in life: poverty, distress, humiliation, the struggle for justice, persecutions, the difficulty of daily conversion, the effort to remain faithful to our call to holiness, and many others. But if we open the door to Jesus and allow him to be part of our lives, if we share our joys and sorrows with him, then we will experience the peace and joy that only God, who is infinite love, can give.
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More and more people work on Sundays as a consequence of the competitiveness imposed by a consumer society.
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This Christmas may we be consistent in living the Gospel, welcoming Jesus into the centre of our lives.
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