"INTERNET: A NEW FORUM FOR PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL"

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from John Paul II for the 36th World Communications Day, which is to be held on May 12 and whose theme is to be: "Internet, A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel."

The message was published in Spanish, English, French, Italian, German and Portuguese. Some extracts are given below:

"The Church in every age continues the work begun on the day of Pentecost, when the Apostles, in the power of the Holy Spirit, went forth into the streets of Jerusalem to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many tongues. Through the succeeding centuries, this evangelizing mission spread to the far corners of the earth, as Christianity took root in many places and learned to speak the diverse languages of the world."

"But the history of evangelization is not just a matter of geographic expansion, for the Church has also had to cross many cultural thresholds. ... The age of the great discoveries, the Renaissance and the invention of printing, the Industrial Revolution and the birth of the modern world: these too were threshold moments which demanded new forms of evangelization. Now, with the communications and information revolution in full swing, the Church stands unmistakably at another decisive gateway. It is fitting therefore that on this World Communications Day 2002 we should reflect on the subject: 'Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel.'

"The Internet is certainly a new 'forum' understood in the ancient Roman sense of a public space. ... lt was a crowded and bustling urban space, which both reflected the surrounding culture and created a culture of its own. This is no less true of cyberspace, which is as it were a new frontier opening up at the beginning of this new millennium. ... For the Church the new world of cyberspace is a summons to the great adventure of using its potential to proclaim the Gospel message."

"The Church approaches this new medium with realism and confidence. Like other communications media, it is a means, not an end in itself. The Internet can offer magnificent opportunities for evangelization if used with competence and a clear awareness of its strengths and weaknesses. Above all, by providing information and stirring interest, it makes possible an initial encounter with the Christian message, especially among the young who increasingly turn to the world of cyberspace as a window on the world. It is important, therefore, that the Christian community think of very practical ways of helping those who first make contact through the Internet to move from the virtual world of cyberspace to the real world of Christian community.
"At a subsequent stage, the Internet can also provide the kind of follow-up which evangelization requires. ... There already exist on the Net countless sources of information, documentation and education about the Church, her history and tradition, her doctrine and her engagement in every field in all parts of the world. It is clear, then, that Internet ... can certainly provide a unique supplement and support in both preparing for the encounter with Christ in community, and sustaining the new believer in the journey of faith which then begins.

"There are nevertheless certain necessary ... questions which arise in using the Internet in the cause of evangelization. The essence of the Internet in fact is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which passes in a moment. In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values. ... Despite its enormous potential for good, some of the degrading and damaging ways in which the Internet can be used are already obvious to all, and public authorities surely have a responsibility to guarantee that this marvelous instrument serves the common good and does not become a source of harm.

"Furthermore, the Internet radically redefines a person's psychological relationship to time and space. Attention is rivetted on what is tangible, useful, instantly available; the stimulus for deeper thought and reflection may be lacking. ... Understanding and wisdom are the fruit of a contemplative eye upon the world, and do not come from a mere accumulation of facts. ... They are the result of an insight which penetrates the deeper meaning of things in relation to one another and to the whole of reality. Moreover, as a forum in which practically everything is acceptable and almost nothing is lasting, the Internet favors a relativistic way of thinking and sometimes feeds the flight from personal responsibility and commitment."

"The fact that through the Internet people multiply their contacts in ways hitherto unthinkable opens up wonderful possibilities for spreading the Gospel. But it is also true that electronically mediated relationships can never take the place of the direct human contact required for genuine evangelization. For evangelization always depends upon the personal witness of the one sent to evangelize. How does the Church lead from the kind of contact made possible by the Internet to the deeper communication demanded by Christian proclamation? How do we build upon the first contact and exchange of information which the Internet makes possible?

"There is no doubt that the electronic revolution holds out the promise of great positive breakthroughs for the developing world; but there is also the possibility that it will in fact aggravate existing inequalities as the information and communications gap widens. How can we ensure that the information and communications revolution which has the Internet as its prime engine will work in favor of the globalization of human development and solidarity, objectives closely linked to the Church's evangelizing mission? ... How can we ensure that this wondrous instrument first conceived in the context of military operations can now serve the cause of peace? Can it favor that culture of dialogue, participation, solidarity and reconciliation without which peace cannot flourish? The Church believes it can; and to ensure that this is what will happen she is determined to enter this new forum, armed with the Gospel of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

"The Internet causes billions of images to appear on millions of computer monitors around the planet. From this galaxy of sight and sound will the face of Christ emerge and the voice of Christ be heard? For it is only when His face is seen and His voice heard that the world will know the glad tidings of our redemption. ...Therefore, on this World Communications Day, I dare to summon the whole Church bravely to cross this new threshold, to put out into the deep of the Net, so that now as in the past the great engagement of the Gospel and culture may show to the world 'the glory of God on the face of Christ'."

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VIETNAM: EVANGELIZATION AND FORMATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received members of the Episcopal Conference of Vietnam, who have just completed their "ad limina" visit, and thanked them for their "perseverance and valiant testimony" in the task with which they have been entrusted.

The Pope began by speaking of the evangelical and missionary priorities of the Church in Vietnam. "The vital importance of the mission," he said, "must always inspire the courageous decisions you make with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the main agent of evangelization. With the help of the Spirit you will be able to give an effective response to the demands of announcing the Gospel."

After recalling that in their five-yearly reports the bishops had referred to the need for developing both initial catechetical formation and the permanent formation of priests, male and female religious and lay people, he said: "The many years of conflict, the dispersal of Christian communities and the disparity in levels of education among the faithful have rendered the planning and organization of such formation difficult. ... It is particularly urgent that everyone be offered solid teaching in the Church's social doctrine."

"The Catholic Church," he went on, "is also called to share its hope, tirelessly proposing the path of dialogue. ... A confident and constructive dialogue among all members of civil society will enable fresh hope to be given to all the people of Vietnam."

The Holy Father emphasized that the Church is not to be confused with the political community, though "healthy collaboration" must exist between them. He went on to add: "The Church invites her members to commit themselves faithfully to the development of all people and to building a just, united and equal society. ... In order to implement this 'healthy collaboration,' the Church hopes that the political community will totally respect her independence and autonomy. That most precious advantage that is religious liberty ... concerns both individuals and religious communities."

"I hope that all members of the nation will come together to promote a civilization of love based on the universal values of peace, justice, solidarity and liberty."

John Paul II highlighted the "vitality and courage" of the Vietnamese laity "who live and celebrate their faith in conditions that are often difficult." He asked that they be given a formation "that makes them witnesses in social, political and economic life."

The Pope made reference to priests' need to receive "a spiritual and intellectual formation appropriate to the missionary challenges they must face." Finally, he expressed his joy at the number of vocations to the consecrated life, especially to the female religious life, and encouraged consecrated men and women "not to slacken in their missionary commitment and to commit themselves with renewed fervor to the announcement of Christ and to the service of all human beings."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father gave his assent to the election to the dignity of bishop of Archpriest Kevork Khazoumian, patriarchal exarch of Jerusalem and Amman. The election was carried out canonically by the Synod of Bishops of the Armenian Catholic Church, meeting in Rome on October 15, 2001. The bishop-elect was born in Chiah, Lebanon, in 1935 and ordained a priest in 1960.

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THE VATICAN CITY RAILWAY STATION

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Vatican City Railway Station, whence John Paul II will travel to Assisi on January 24 to participate in the World Day of Prayer for Peace, lies within the walls of Vatican City, a short distance from the Governorate, in a large square surrounded by gardens and dominated by a view of the dome of St. Peter's. Pope Pius XI, in whose pontificate the station was built, on a visit to the construction site exclaimed: "This is the most beautiful station in the world!"

Building work began following the signing of the Lateran Pacts on February 11, 1929, between the Holy See and the then Kingdom of Italy. According to this agreement, the Italian State was to build a railway station within Vatican City. Work began on April 3 of that same year and the first locomotive entered the Vatican (to check the working of the points) in March 1932. However, it was only in 1934 that the two parts of the railway built in the two separate States were officially consigned. Apart from the station building itself, the works also included a link to the Italian rail network on the Rome-Viterbo line.

The complex was built by Pope Pius XI's favored architect, Giuseppe Momo. Inaugurated in 1933, the station measures 61 meters by 21.5 meters; the height of the central block is 16.85 meters and of the wings, 5.95 meters. The main building includes a large hall paved in colored marble and with a coffered ceiling. The most noteworthy decorative feature are the eight marble columns from the Italian region of Versilia. The exterior is of travertine and is decorated with sculptures by Eduardo Rubino (the pontifical emblem supported by figures representing Thought and Action), and two large bas-reliefs: the boat of St. Peter (symbolizing the most ancient means of spreading the Gospel) and the prophet Elias' chariot of fire (representing the most modern means, air transport).

However, Pius XI never actually used the railway station which had originally been conceived as a place where the pontiff could meet personalities visiting the Holy See, and as an arrival point (especially during Jubilees) for multitudes of pilgrims. No "papal train" was ever constructed, as had originally been planned, and neither does the Vatican now have, nor has it ever had, its own railway workers or rolling stock.

The first pope to use the station was John XXIII on October 4, 1962, on his pilgrimage from Rome to Loreto and Assisi, one week prior to the start of Vatican Council II.

From the pontificate of Pius XI up to our own time, the railway station has been used, above all, for the transport of goods. Even this has been much reduced of late due to the speed and economic advantages of road transport. Only on a few occasions has the station been used for passengers.

On April 11, 1959, at the express wish of John XXIII, a train departed from the Vatican station carrying the remains of Pius X to Venice. On its return, his coffin arrived at Rome's central rail station, Termini, with that of St. John Bosco and together they were taken to St. Peter's Basilica.

On other occasions, special trains have used the station (pilgrimages of the sick, tourists visiting the Vatican museums, a steam train taking young people around Italy).

The first occasion that John Paul II used the station was when he travelled on the Italian Railways' train "Harlequin" to Termini to mark the 21st Day of the Railway Worker on November 8, 1979. The journey to Assisi will be the first time he uses the Vatican railway line for a journey outside Rome.

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