Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “All priests have as their primary duty the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments,” writes Benedict XVI in his message for the 44th World Communications Day (May 16, 2010), which will bear the theme: “The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word.”
The great cultural changes in the modern world and the new channels of communications opened by technological advances, which the youth are particularly drawn to, present remarkable prospects in the preaching of the Gospel as well. However, we must avoid what “might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web, or to see it only as a space to be filled.” Thus, priests “can rightly be expected to be present in the world of digital communications as faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as leaders of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different 'voices' provided by the digital marketplace. Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis.”
In his message, the Pope recalled that through “new communication technologies, priests can introduce people to the life of the Church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ...Yet priests present in the world of digital communications should be less notable for their media savvy than for their priestly heart, their closeness to Christ. This will not only enliven their pastoral outreach, but also will give a "soul" to the fabric of communications that makes up the 'Web.' God's loving care for all people in Christ must be expressed in the digital world not simply as an artifact from the past, or a learned theory, but as something concrete, present and engaging.”
One of the paths that the Church is called to walk on in the digital continent is that of promoting a culture of respect for the dignity and value of the human person, at the light of the Gospel, without disregard for those who do not believe and while being constantly attentive to those who continue to seek; indeed, “we should encourage their seeking as a first step of evangelization.”
In the conclusive part of his message, the Pope once again recalled that the development of the new technologies represents “a great resource” for humanity and for the individual, a stimulus for encounter and dialogue, “a great opportunity for believers. No door can or should be closed to those who, in the name of the risen Christ, are committed to drawing near to others.” And lastly, he makes a heartfelt appeal: “To my dear brother priests, then, I renew the invitation to make astute use of the unique possibilities offered by modern communications. May the Lord make all of you enthusiastic heralds of the Gospel in the new 'agorà' which the current media are opening up.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 25/01/2010)
