Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “As with every other fruit of human ingenuity, the new communications technologies must be placed at the service of the integral good of the individual and of the whole of humanity. If used wisely, they can contribute to the satisfaction of the desire for meaning, truth and unity which remain the most profound aspirations of each human being.” This is an excerpt from the Holy Father Benedict XVI's Message for the forty-fifth World Day of Social Communications, which this year will be celebrated on Sunday, 5 June, on the theme: “Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age”.
The Message stresses that “new technologies are not only changing the way we communicate, but communication itself.” In the digital world, “ the new technologies allow people to meet each other beyond the confines of space and of their own culture, creating in this way an entirely new world of potential friendships. This is a great opportunity, but it also requires greater attention to and awareness of possible risks. Who is my 'neighbour' in this new world? Does the danger exist that we may be less present to those whom we encounter in our everyday life? Is there is a risk of being more distracted because our attention is fragmented and absorbed in a world 'other' than the one in which we live? Do we have time to reflect critically on our choices and to foster human relationships which are truly deep and lasting? It is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact with people at every level of our lives.”
In the second part of the Message, the Pope recalled that “also in the digital era, each person is called to be an authentic and reflective person”, also “there is a Christian presence even in the digital world.… To proclaim the Gospel through the new media means not only to insert expressly religious content into different media platforms, but also to witness consistently, in one's own digital profile and in the way one communicates choices, preferences and judgements that are fully consistent with the Gospel, even when it is not spoken of specifically. Furthermore, it is also true in the digital world that a message cannot be proclaimed without a consistent witness on the part of the one who proclaims it.”
In his concluding words, Benedict XVI emphasised that “the truth of the Gospel is not something to be consumed or used superficially; rather it is a gift that calls for a free response. Even when it is proclaimed in the virtual space of the web, the Gospel demands to be incarnated in the real world and linked to the real faces of our brothers and sisters, those with whom we share our daily lives.... Also in this area we are called to announce our faith that Christ is God, the Saviour of man and of history.... In the final analysis, the truth of Christ is the full and authentic response to that human desire for relationship, communion and meaning which is reflected in the immense popularity of social networks.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 24/01/2011)
