Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Pope Benedict Encourages Catholic Priests to Use Internet

   Pope  Benedict  encourages  priests  to  embrace  new digital media to
   create  deeper  forms  of  relationship  with  faithful across greater
   distances

   VOA News 23 January 2010
   Pope  Benedict  XVI delivers his blessing during a general audience at
   the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, 20 Jan 2010

Photo: AP

   Pope  Benedict  XVI delivers his blessing during a general audience at
   the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, 20 Jan 2010

   Pope  Benedict has urged Roman Catholic priests to use the Internet to
   spread the word of God.

   In  his  message  Saturday, the pope encouraged priests to embrace the
   new  digital  media  to  create  deeper forms of relationship with the
   faithful across greater distances.
   But  the  pontiff  also  warned  that  Catholic  clergy should be less
   notable for their media skills than for their vocation.
   The  pope's  message comes as the church prepares for its annual World
   Communication Day, May 16.
   The  Vatican  has  long  had  a Web site in several languages.  It has
   recently  created a news channel on the Youtube video sharing site and
   a Facebook networking site Pope2You.


   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

.