Proclaiming Christ in the digital age: Pontifical Commission for Laity

Vatican City, 30 Nov 2013: The XXVI Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity will be held from 5 to 7 December at Villa Aurelia in Rome. The Plenary will focus on the theme "Proclaiming Christ in the digital age", a Vatican press release revealed on Friday. It is one of the most characteristic of our time, a theme particularly relevant to the mission of the lay faithful in the contemporary world and to which the papal Magisterium of recent years has not failed to dedicate significant interventions. The third day of the Assembly will review and evaluate proposals for future programs, stated the Press release.

The choice of the theme, said the communique, stresses the importance to reiterate that commitment in the field of communications falls primarily in the vocation and mission of the lay faithful. It is more urgent than ever that the lay faithful become fully aware of the new challenges that the rapid development of communications technology poses in front of the Church.

Besides, the last Synod of Bishops on "new evangelization" and the recent Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis Evangelii gaudium have placed strong emphasis on the missionary nature of the Church, and the importance of not neglecting any field
of contemporary life so that it can reach all the beauty and joy of proclaiming the Gospel. There is no doubt that the digital environment is becoming one of the most important among these areas.

The Plenary want to pay particular attention to the actual situation of the development of the ‘digital world’, avoiding easy simplifications in one way or another – either excessive enthusiasm that does not want to see the risks and problems that the web is engendering among young people, or seeing only the risks and end up preventing the proper use of the new possibilities offered by the extraordinary Internet.

The structure of the program provides an introductory report on the first day by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Council focusing on the Gospel in a globalized world, with particular attention to the Magisterium. This will be followed by presentations on ‘the virtual world and its development; the psychological structure and identity of modern man that uses the new media; evangelization in the network.
The second day will be marked by two important panel discussions. The first will address the issues raised by the spread of the Internet, and will be led by distinguished representatives of the world of psychiatry, psychology and science of communications. The second panel discussion will be devoted to the great opportunities offered by the Internet. Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, will make a presentation on the Christian presence in the network and its future prospects. The third day will be devoted to the presentation of the site of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, a report of Bishop Clemens, secretary of the department, on the work and programs of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The Plenary will conclude with a special audience with Pope Francis.
Source: VR Sedoc