BOGOTA, Colombia, JULY 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The Church is «better equipped than ever» in the area of communications media, says a Vatican official.
Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, made this point when addressing a meeting of individuals responsible for communications for Latin American bishops’ conferences.
«Today,» he said, «we have innumerable paper publications and radio broadcasting stations; increasing television stations, thousands of Web pages, some very active Catholic communications organizations, and also the Information Network of the Church in Latin America as energizing elements of the whole.»
The archbishop urged that communications should be the focus of the next general conference of Latin American bishops, to be held in 2007.
The meeting he addressed was organized by the communications department of the Latin American bishops’ council. Its aim is to plan cooperation in communications for the fifth general conference. The meeting ends Thursday.
Mediasphere
In his address, Archbishop Foley said: «Notwithstanding what is usually believed, the Church not only is not afraid to live in the ‘mediasphere’ created by communication, but in a certain sense anticipated it.
«The different generations of Christians have been conscious of their mission: to proclaim to every person, in the name of God, the most valuable message, the treasure of salvation.»
Archbishop Foley emphasized that the Church is «communion.»
«It is a ‘network of networks’ reaching the farthest corners of the earth,» he said. «It is up to us now to equip those who still lack means to communicate and, with a spirit of communion in the Lord, facilitate the arrival of the message and the participation of all in a more determined and organic way.»
