杏MAP导航

By Lydia O鈥橩ane

In his message entitled 鈥淲e are members one of another» (Eph 4:25) From social network communities to the human community, released on the feast day of St Francis de Sales, Patron Saint of Journalists, the 杏MAP导航 underlines that the Internet and social media are an important resource. But he also emphasizes that the Internet has been 鈥減roven to be one of the areas most exposed to disinformation and to the conscious and targeted distortion of facts and interpersonal relationships, which are often used to discredit.鈥�

Social Networks advantages and disadvantages

Social networks on the one hand, he says 鈥渉elp us to better connect, rediscover, and assist one another, but on the other hand, 鈥渓end themselves to the manipulation of personal data, aimed at obtaining political or economic advantages, without due respect for the person and his or her rights.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 also notes that, 鈥渟tatistics show that among young people one in four is involved in episodes of cyberbullying.鈥� 鈥淭o curb this phenomenon," he adds, "an international observatory on cyberbullying will be set up in the Vatican.鈥�

The importance of Community

杏MAP导航 Francis points out in his message that from an anthropological perspective 鈥渢he metaphor of the net recalls another meaningful image: the community.鈥�

In the positive sense, the 杏MAP导航 says, community is one that thrives on mutual listening and dialogue. Unfortunately, the Pontiff observes, at present 鈥渟ocial network communities are not automatically synonymous with community.鈥�

Young people at risk of becoming 鈥渟ocial hermits鈥�

The Net, observes the 杏MAP导航, 鈥� is an opportunity to promote encounter with others, but it can also increase our self-isolation, like a web that can entrap us.鈥� He notes in particular that 鈥測oung people are the ones most exposed to the illusion that the social web can completely satisfy them on a relational level. There is the dangerous phenomenon of young people becoming 鈥渟ocial hermits鈥� who risk alienating themselves completely from society. This dramatic situation reveals a serious rupture in the relational fabric of society, one we cannot ignore.鈥�

He goes on to say that, 鈥渨hile governments seek legal ways to regulate the web and to protect the original vision of a free, open and secure network, we all have the possibility and the responsibility to promote its positive use.鈥�

鈥淪o how can we find our true communitarian identity, aware of the responsibility we have towards one another in the online network as well, the 杏MAP导航 asks?

A possible answer, 杏MAP导航 Francis responds, comes from Saint Paul and the metaphor 鈥渂ody and the members, which this Saint uses to 鈥渄escribe the reciprocal relationship among people, based on the organism that unites them.鈥�

鈥淏eing members one of another, he says, 鈥渋s the profound motivation with which the Apostle invites us to put away falsehood and speak the truth: the duty to guard the truth springs from the need not to belie the mutual relationship of communion. Truth is revealed in communion.鈥�

As Christians, the 杏MAP导航 comments, 鈥渨e all recognize ourselves as members of the one body whose head is Christ. This helps us not to see people as potential competitors, but to consider even our enemies as persons.鈥�

鈥淚n order to communicate with us and to communicate himself to us, God adapts himself to our language, establishing a real dialogue with humanity throughout history.鈥�

Investing in relationships

In today鈥檚 world, 杏MAP导航 Francis underlines, all of us are called 鈥渢o invest in relationships, and to affirm the interpersonal nature of our humanity, including in and through the network.鈥�

A network created to liberate not to entrap

The Church herself, remarks the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渋s a network woven together by Eucharistic communion, where unity is based not on 鈥渓ikes鈥�, but on the truth, on the 鈥淎men鈥�, by which each one clings to the Body of Christ, and welcomes others.鈥�

If a family, he says, 鈥渦ses the Net to be more connected, to then meet at table and look into each other鈥檚 eyes, then it is a resource. If a Church community coordinates its activity through the network, and then celebrates the Eucharist together, then it is a resource鈥︹��

The 杏MAP导航 concludes his message by saying, that by acting responsibly to promote the positive use of the Net, we can 鈥渕ove from diagnosis to treatment: opening the way for dialogue, for encounter, for 鈥渟miles鈥� and expressions of tenderness... This is the network we want, a network created not to entrap, but to liberate, to protect a communion of people who are free.鈥�