Pope Benedict speaks to Bloggers

In the Holy Father’s message today for the World Day of Social Communications, he expressed the following encouraging and wise words for all those involved in blogging and online social networking. Now we are pleased to report the key points for CTS’s followers, as they are very helpful guidelines:

“I would like then to invite Christians, confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, to join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible. “

“I invite young people above all to make good use of their presence in the digital world.”

“a new appreciation of communication itself, which is seen first of all as dialogue, exchange, solidarity and the creation of positive relations”

“there exists a Christian way of being present in the digital world: this takes the form of a communication which is honest and open, responsible and respectful of others. ”

“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”

“Believers who bear witness to their most profound convictions greatly help prevent the web from becoming an instrument which depersonalizes people, attempts to manipulate them emotionally or allows those who are powerful to monopolize the opinions of others.”

“the limits typical of digital communication: the one-sidedness of the interaction, the tendency to communicate only some parts of one’s interior world”

“the risk of constructing a false image of oneself, which can become a form of self-indulgence.”

“enclosing oneself in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world. In the search for sharing, for “friends”, there is the challenge to be authentic and faithful, and not give in to the illusion of constructing an artificial public profile for oneself”

“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.”

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