The theme chosen by Benedict XVI was announced today. In the Year for Priests the Pope wants to invite priests to "consider the new media as a powerful resource for their ministry in the service of the Word" and encourage them to address "the challenges that arise from the new digital culture."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In this Year of the Priest, "The priest and the pastoral ministry in the digital world: new media at the service of the Word" is the theme chosen by Benedict XVI for the 44th World Day for Social Communications.   Commenting on the theme chosen by the Pope, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications says that "the main task of the priest is to proclaim the Word of God made flesh, man and history, thus becoming a sign of the communion that God makes with man. The effectiveness of this ministry then requires that the priest lives an intimate relationship with God, rooted in a deep love and deep knowledge of scripture, written 'witness' of the Word of God. "

"The Message for the 44th World Communications Day - continues the statement - especially wants to invite priests, during this Year for Priests and after the celebration of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, to consider new media as a powerful resource for their ministry in the service of Word and wants to give a word of encouragement so they may address the challenges arising from the new digital culture. "  

"The new media, in fact, if properly understood and valued, can offer all the priests and pastoral workers a wealth of data and content that was previously difficult to access, and facilitate the creation of partnerships and a growth of communion that was unthinkable in the past. Thanks to new media, those who make known and preach the Word of Life can in words, sounds and images – the real and specific expressive grammar of the digital culture - individuals and communities on every continent, creating new areas of knowledge and dialogue that can help propose and implement new itineraries of communion. "  

"If used wisely, with the help of experts in communications technology and culture - concludes the document - the new media may well become for the priests and for all pastoral workers a valid and effective instrument for evangelization and real and profound communion. It can become a new form of evangelization so that Christ proceeds along the streets of our cities and on the doorstep of our homes again to say: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me "(Rev 3, 20).

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