Dhaka, Mgr. Celli: the proclamation of Christ spreads to the "digital world"
Dhaka (AsiaNews) - The new technologies offer a better opportunity to improve relations between people, opportunities for dialogue, prayer and the meaning of the message of God to our hearts. These are the words of Mgr. Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, during a meeting with the Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (Cbcb). The prelate also stressed that the central point of Christianity "is not the doctrine, but the person, Christ"; it is the duty of the faithful in the "global village" to annlounce God "through the new digital world." And the service AsiaNews carries out in this mission, he adds, is "important."
Archbishop Celli on official visit to the Asian country on 15 February gave a talk before more than 300 people, among them priests and young seminarians. The next day, at the headquarters of the Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (Cbcb), he met hundreds of priests and laity from around the country, inviting those present "not to delay in facing the challenges of the new digital world." An appeal also supported by Mgr. Paulinus Costa, Archbishop of Dhaka, who aims to "strengthen the commitment of religious and lay people in the media."
Commenting on the agreement with Google, which has led to the birth of a YouTube channel dedicated to Benedict XVI, the prelate told AsiaNews that "the pope asked to reach out to people, with a spirit of dialogue and respect." The project has proved a success from the start: 700 thousand visitors a week, and in one year 250 million hits have been registered.
The prelate stresses the importance of "witness through the media" even though these, at times, make veiled attacks and spread false news about the pope and the Church. We must take advantage of this opportunity, he adds, to "purify our hearts" and enjoy the mission that is entrusted to us to proclaim the word of God, "believing in Him and being witnesses of love."
In Bangladesh there are more than 10 million internet users and the network, continues Mgr. Celli, is a tool for bishops, priests and laity to "announce to the world that God is near." The bishop visited the Christian center for telecommunications in Dhaka, and was able to see an example of the love of God because "Muslims, Hindus and Christians work side by side" Under the spirit of "solidarity, peace and justice."
The President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications states that "new technologies offer a new opportunity to improve relations between people," contrasting the logic of confessional fundamentalism. "The central point of our religion - said the prelate - is not the doctrine, but the person, Christ. Christians in the global village have a responsibility to proclaim the Gospel also in the digital world. "
Archbishop Celli concludes by recalling that the visit to Bangladesh also serves to "encourage the Church to enter the vast virtual world" as expressed by Benedict XVI and, before that, by Pope John Paul II. And in this light, he observes, the service that AsiaNews carries out is "important."
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