Pope appeals to youth to be witnesses of faith in a digital world.

(May 20, 2009): A pressing appeal to youth to be witnesses of the faith in this digital world and make known the good news of God’s infinite love for all people, was made by Pope Benedict XVI at the end of his weekly general audience on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope made the appeal in view of World Communications Day to be celebrated on Sunday, May 24. Making his appeal in English, the Pope invited all those, especially the young, who make use of the new technologies of communication, to utilise them in a positive way and to realise the great potential of these means, to build up friendship and solidarity that can contribute to a better world. The Pope noted that new technologies have brought about fundamental shifts in the way, in which news and information are spread, and in how people communicate and relate to each other.
The Pope encouraged all those who access cyberspace to be careful to maintain and promote a culture of respect, dialogue and authentic friendship, where the values of truth, harmony and understanding can flourish. The Pope concluded his talk, appealing to youth in particular, to bear witness to the faith through the digital world. He urged them to employ the 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.