REFLECTIONS ON FEAST OF ASCENSION, WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2002 (VIS) - Before reciting the Regina Coeli, Pope John Paul spoke to the faithful in St. Peter's Square from his study window that overlooks the piazza, and he reflected on the celebrations today of the solemnity of the Ascension and of the World Day of Social Communications.

Noting that the Ascension is celebrated today in many countries, the Pope said: "Having arisen from the dead and ascended into Heaven, the Redeemer is for believers the anchor of salvation and comfort in the daily commitment to be in the service of truth and peace, justice and freedom. Ascending into Heaven, He re-opens for us the way to the blessed homeland, not to alienate us from history, but to give our path a breath of hope."
The Holy Father then turned to today's observance of the World Day of Social Communications, stating that the theme he proposed for this year's celebration was very current: "The Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel."

He chose this theme, he said, because "the most recent progress in communications and information have placed the Church before unheard-of possibilities of evangelization. ... We must enter into this modern and ever more dense communications network with realism and trust, persuaded that, if it is used with competency and attentive responsibility, it can offer valid opportunities for spreading the Gospel message."

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