Church must use technology to reach young, pope tells French bishops

Published: 2004-02-13

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II encouraged French bishops to use the Internet and new communications technology to reach young people with the Gospel message. While the new media tend to promote "a culture of the immediate and the ephemeral," the church cannot ignore them as potentially effective tools of evangelization, the pope said Feb. 13. He praised the bishops for setting up Web sites that offer formation and inspiration to young people, along with basic information about the church and its programs. The pope made his remarks to a group of bishops from southern France who were on their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican, made every five years. His talk focused on how the church can relate to young people and stimulate their interest. The pope said the church's efforts among the young are made more difficult by the troublesome social environment in modern Europe and by the fragile family situations in which many young people live.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .