The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has assembled representatives from 82 countries, including 75 bishops, to analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by 'new media'. Archbishop Claudio Celli, the President of the council, is inviting participants of the Vatican seminar to see innovations like blogs and social networking sites as more than just new instruments, but, rather, as bearers of a new digital culture.“Really, we must discover the quality of this culture and how to be present and how to announce in such a culture the permanent message of the Gospel.”“I'm hearing about Youtube for the first time, for example. I'm hearing about blogs for the first time. There are lots of expressions that I'm now hearing and I want to know more about these things.”The bishops are sharing how new media is influencing pastoral ministry in their dioceses. Archbishop Celli announced that this discussion may lead to a new Vatican document, to be decided at a plenary meeting in October. While the council has previously considered the impact of digital networks, as did Pope Benedict XVI's recent message for World Communications Day, the last major Church communications document was “Aetatis Novae”, dating back to 1992.

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has assembled representatives from 82 countries, including 75 bishops, to analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by 'new media'. Archbishop...leggi tutto