The Pope said this today at the end of the general audience when he spoke in English about this Sunday’s celebration of World Communications Day.
Referring to his message for this year, he noted his invitation to “all those who make use of the new technologies of communication, especially the young, to utilize them in a positive way and to realize the great potential of these means to build up bonds of friendship and solidarity that can contribute to a better world.”
The Holy Father recognized that “new technologies have brought about fundamental shifts in the ways in which news and information are disseminated and in how people communicate and relate to each other.”
Thus, he exhorted those who “access cyberspace” to take care to “maintain and promote a culture of respect, dialogue and authentic friendship where the values of truth, harmony and understanding can flourish.”
His final exhortation was for youth: “Young people in particular, I appeal to you: bear witness to your faith through the digital world! Employ these new technologies to make the Gospel known, so that the Good News of God’s infinite love for all people, will resound in new ways across our increasingly technological world!”
Pope Benedict XVI deserves much praise for reaching out to all people — especially young people — and urging them to use communication technologies to enhance their knowledge of God’s Love for all people. If we all used the new technologies in a positive way — in order to thank God for His Love and to develop harmonious human bonds of friendship and solidarity — the world would be a better place in which to live.