Pope embraces social media

In a move that is sure to be welcomed by the social-network-savvy —and largely Roman Catholic— Philippine population, Pope Benedict XVI has endorsed the use of social media in an age of "vast cultural transformation."

'Desire for meaning, truth and unity' In his official message entitled, "Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age", the Pope encouraged Catholic youth around the world to use social media and social networks to satisfy "the desire for meaning, truth and unity which remain the most profound aspirations of each human being." The message was released in advance celebration of the 45th World Communications Day this coming June 5. 'Unimaginable new horizons' "New horizons are now open that were until recently unimaginable; they stir our wonder at the possibilities offered by these new media and, at the same time, urgently demand a serious reflection on the significance of communication in the digital age," the Pope said. "As with every other fruit of human ingenuity, the new communications technologies must be placed at the service of the integral good of the individual and of the whole of humanity," he added. The importance of direct contact However, the Pope cautioned against "enclosing oneself in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world." "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," the Pope reasoned. Christians in a digital world Pope Benedict XVI also encouraged Catholics to be "authentic and faithful" in their online interactions: "When people exchange information, they are already sharing themselves, their view of the world, their hopes, their ideals. It follows that 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," the Pope said. Online Filipino Catholics Pope Benedict XVI's message is expected to be warmly received in the Philippines, which has over 80 million Catholics and over 21.7 million Facebook users out of a population of 99.9 million. You may get in touch with the author via Twitter, @tjdimacali. — GMANews.TV