This Pope uses a pencil to write but
knows well what the Internet can do
Translated from the 1/24-1/25 issue of
The Pope does not surf the Web, he does not use a computer, and he still writes with a pen, or preferably, a pencil. But the world of the Internet amazes and fascinates him.
And as a man of study, but even more, as a man of dialog, he strongly hopes that the digital world will be a space for dialog and confrontation among the cultures of our time, 'a true Court of the Gentiles in cyberspace'.
These may seem to be superfluous observations in the context of the Pope's message for the 45th World Day for Social Communications which was presented at a press conference on Monday, January 24, at the Vatican Press Office.
They come from statements made by Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi in response to a question made by a newsman.
Nonetheless, as Mons. Celli noted, such details help to better understand the reasons that inspired this year's papal message, and above all, the word 'amazement' that the Pope feels about the extraordinary potential of the Internet.
At the same time, they provide a reason for his concern that the truth of the Christian announcement and its authenticity should remain unaltered in all the variegated comoplexity and heterogeneity of the digital world.
In effect, the mode of transmission has changed, but the message of the Gospel remains what it always was. Just as the Christian way of witness, based on consistent and distinctive living, should remain the same but capable of being a 'sign' even in cyberspace.
This was the subtext at the presetnation of the Pope's message Monday morning.
In his presentation, Mons. Celli immediately emphasized the most relevant question in this respect: In the face of the increasingly evident cultural transformation brought about by the digital age with its new technologies, so too does the activity of Christians become more important in making sure that the truth of the Christian annnouncement and the authenticity of Christian life are never weakened nor minimized.
It is precisely along these lines that Pope Benedict's magisterium on social communicati9ons has evolved in recent years, from the time, Mons. Celli notes, that the new technologies literally scrambled the traditional forms of communication.
Mons. Cellli recalled the themes of the Pope's messages since 2007: 'Children and communications media: A challenge for education' (2007); 'Social communications media: At the crossroads of protagonism and service' (2008); 'New technologies, new relationships: Promoting a culture of respect, dialog and friendship (2009); and "The priest and pastoral work in the digital world: The new media in the service of the Word' (2010).
The 2010 message was the result of discussions during the Synodal Assembly on the Word of God, during which the question of disseminating the Word of God through the new communications technologies was brought up several times.
Mons. Celli pointed out that the progress registered in this field has been extremely positive and that the new communications capabilities constitute an opportunity not to be missed.
Used wisely, the new technologies can "contribute to satisfy the desire for meaning, truth and unity that remain the most profound aspiration of the human being" and "offer great possibilities for intra-personal 'encounters' which go far beyond the limits of geography and one's original culture".
But he also warned that in addition to opening up frontiers for new friendships, "the new media carry inevitable risks", and therefore, it is important to have "the right attitude in entering this world" - that "one must maintain correct behavior as well as one's personal authenticity". A concept clearly enunciated in the Pope's message.
"The Pope," said Mond. Celli, "speaks of a 'Christian style of presence even in the digital world', a style that leads directly to honest and open communication, which is responsible and respectful of others".
"Communicating the Gospel is not simply inserting openly religious content in various platforms, but above all, to bear Christian witness with consistent choices, preferences and judgments in line with the teachings of the Gospel, even if and when the subject is not directly religious".
It has to do, he said, "with an explicit claim on our personal responsibility, both in presneting ourselves, and in relating to others", because as the Pope says in his message, "a person is always involved in anything he communicates".
"This is what gives significance to the title of the Pope's message: the testimony of Catholics on the Web is obviously not limited to presenting religious content, but should be manifested as concrete personal testimony. Living in a way consistent with the Gospel is itself a form of explicit communication that makes the Christian announcement credible. More than ever, the need to make the Gospel known in its integrity and fullness should be made manifest distinctively in the Internet age".
Also present at the news conference were other officials of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications: Monsignors Paul Tighe, secretary; Giuseppe Scotti, associate secretary; and Angelo Scelzo, undersecretary.
Mons. Celli also announced once more that the Holy See is working on a new portal - "a work which has engaged us a great deal and which we hope will be completed by Easter". Initially, he said, the portal will be in Italian and English. The other Vatican official languages will be added later.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 25/01/2011 05:19]