| Cardinal Tobin: Explore the power of genuine connections in the age of social media |
| My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, Synodality begins with attentive listening and respectful dialogue, but its ultimate goal is encounter, the kind of personal engagement that leads to mutual understanding, trust and the ability to join hands as sisters and brothers who are members of the one family of God. Ultimately, synodality should lead us to a face-to-face encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ precisely because we recognize him in the faces of everyone we meet—those who are closest to us as well as strangers, even enemies. A recent statement by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication entitled “Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media” (see below) describes how this kind of personal encounter can happen in today’s digital age. While warning of the sometimes-grave dangers that can be found on social media, the Vatican’s statement deliberately seeks to identify the high ground, the ways that these new and increasingly impactful forms of communication can lead to genuine encounters between and among thoughtful and spiritually motivated people. Click here to continue reading Cardinal Tobin’s letter to the faithful. (Available in English and Spanish) |