In a week's time Pope Benedict will be arriving in Madrid to attend the Church's World
Youth Day (WYD) celebrations that are expected to attract more than a million young
people. Given its venue in Europe, organisers say it's no surprise that after Spaniards,
Italians, Germans and French top the list of those registered to attend the week-long
event, with smaller numbers of Americans signed up. But thanks to the U.S. Catholic
Bishops Conference (USCCB) even those young people who can't travel to Madrid will
be able to take part. That's because the USCCB has developed a social media tool
that will allow people for the first time ever to make a virtual pilgrimage to WYD.
Catherine Panzica of the USCCB’s office for social media reveals that the USCCB
has created a Facebook application and a website for non-Facebook users (http://www.virtualworldyouthday.org/
) where individuals can create an avatar and use it to participate in the virtual
pilgrimage.
She says “the application can be added to any Facebook fan page.
A Google map provides visuals of where pilgrims are coming from throughout the world
and another shows the pilgrims on a detailed map of Madrid. Like you were really there”.
Additionally,
USCCB has created a Facebook fan page: (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virtual-World-Youth-Day/155152027881863)
where virtual pilgrims can go to create their avatar, view live video feed from Madrid,
follow key twitter feeds and blogs and upload photos and videos.
Those in Madrid
also can contribute to the page from the event. USCCB staff present at the event will
post content from Madrid. The page will also feature posts from a team of young adults
and young adult leaders who will attend WYD and blog on behalf of the USCCB Secretariat
of Cultural Diversity in the Church. Listen to her full interview with Emer McCarthy: