The Pope Talked About Phatmass! amesome!

[dUSt]

Well, we ARE a social networking site...

[b][size="6"]Pope calls for Christian presence on social networking sites[/size]
By Alan Holdren, Rome Correspondent
Vatican City, Jan 24, 2011 / 12:24 pm (EWTN News/CNA)[/b]

Facebook, MySpace and Twitter should be used by Christians looking to bring "truth, proclamation and authenticity of life" to the web today, the Pope said in his message for the 45th World Day of Social Communications.

In his message released on Jan. 24, the Pope called for a greater Christian presence online in the midst of the "vast cultural transformation" caused by the digital age. New technologies, he said, are "giving birth to a new way learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship."

If technologies are used with wisdom, he explained, "they can contribute to the satisfaction of the desire for meaning, truth and unity which remain the most profound aspirations of each human being."

Pope Benedict also warned about the dangers of falsifying one's online profile and creating a "parallel existence."

He instead urged people to be authentic and faithful when they share information or make "friends" online.

The "Christian way" of being present in the digital world means being "honest and open, responsible and respectful of others," he explained. It is a way of communicating that is consistent with the Gospel, supported by actions worthy of the same witness in one's daily life.

"New and more complex intellectual and spiritual horizons (and) new forms of shared awareness" are opened up by new technologies and Christians are also called to proclaim their faith in God in these spaces, the Pope said.

"Believers who bear witness to their most profound convictions greatly help prevent the internet from becoming an instrument which depersonalizes people, attempts to manipulate them emotionally or allows those who are powerful to monopolize the opinions of others," he said.

Christ's truth is not a question of online popularity, the Pope added, rather, it is "the full and authentic response to that human desire for relationship, communion and meaning which is reflected in the immense popularity of social networks."

While noting that "direct human relations" are always essential to sharing the faith, he invited Christians to"confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible."

Having a Christian presence online is based not only on a desire to be there, but "because this network is an integral part of human life," he said.

The Pope's message was presented during a press conference at the Holy See's Press Office on Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of communications workers.

Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, led the presentation. He announced that the Vatican hopes to have a new communications portal online by Easter.

It will provide a single multimedia site for easy access to the major media communications agencies of the Holy See, such as the press office, Vatican Radio, the Vatican Television Center, L'Osservatore Romano and Fides news.

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, who was also among those present for the presentation, also announced that during a Feb. 10 celebration for the 80-year anniversary of the radio station, he will launch a feature called "VaticanTic" on the station's website. The tool will allow users to view the Pope's schedule.

Read more: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=2500#ixzz1CHArivly

[Guest]

[quote name='dUSt' timestamp='1296166166' post='2205294']
Well, we ARE a social networking site...

[b][size="6"]Pope calls for Christian presence on social networking sites[/size]
By Alan Holdren, Rome Correspondent
Vatican City, Jan 24, 2011 / 12:24 pm (EWTN News/CNA)[/b]

Facebook, MySpace and Twitter should be used by Christians looking to bring "truth, proclamation and authenticity of life" to the web today, the Pope said in his message for the 45th World Day of Social Communications.

In his message released on Jan. 24, the Pope called for a greater Christian presence online in the midst of the "vast cultural transformation" caused by the digital age. New technologies, he said, are "giving birth to a new way learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship."

If technologies are used with wisdom, he explained, "they can contribute to the satisfaction of the desire for meaning, truth and unity which remain the most profound aspirations of each human being."

Pope Benedict also warned about the dangers of falsifying one's online profile and creating a "parallel existence."

He instead urged people to be authentic and faithful when they share information or make "friends" online.

The "Christian way" of being present in the digital world means being "honest and open, responsible and respectful of others," he explained. It is a way of communicating that is consistent with the Gospel, supported by actions worthy of the same witness in one's daily life.

"New and more complex intellectual and spiritual horizons (and) new forms of shared awareness" are opened up by new technologies and Christians are also called to proclaim their faith in God in these spaces, the Pope said.

"Believers who bear witness to their most profound convictions greatly help prevent the internet from becoming an instrument which depersonalizes people, attempts to manipulate them emotionally or allows those who are powerful to monopolize the opinions of others," he said.

Christ's truth is not a question of online popularity, the Pope added, rather, it is "the full and authentic response to that human desire for relationship, communion and meaning which is reflected in the immense popularity of social networks."

While noting that "direct human relations" are always essential to sharing the faith, he invited Christians to"confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible."

Having a Christian presence online is based not only on a desire to be there, but "because this network is an integral part of human life," he said.

The Pope's message was presented during a press conference at the Holy See's Press Office on Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of communications workers.

Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, led the presentation. He announced that the Vatican hopes to have a new communications portal online by Easter.

It will provide a single multimedia site for easy access to the major media communications agencies of the Holy See, such as the press office, Vatican Radio, the Vatican Television Center, L'Osservatore Romano and Fides news.

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, who was also among those present for the presentation, also announced that during a Feb. 10 celebration for the 80-year anniversary of the radio station, he will launch a feature called "VaticanTic" on the station's website. The tool will allow users to view the Pope's schedule.

Read more: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=2500#ixzz1CHArivly
[/quote]
Read this the other day. Pretty cool.

[Sarah147]

Edited January 27, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[fides quarens intellectum]

cool. when is he signing up for Phatmass?

[Roamin Catholic]

He already has..Ever thought of that?

[ardillacid]

AMESONE

[Luigi]

[quote name='Roamin_Catholic' timestamp='1296187748' post='2205546']
He already has..Ever thought of that?
[/quote]

Given that an individual can portray her/himself as anything s/he'd like when creating an e-persona, I feel compelled to ask...

Awright, which one of yous is the pope??
1. Sternhauser maybe - certainly the German-est name on the board...
2. MKolbe? Naw, couldn't be!...
3. I'd suspect CatherineM but she's declared herself married and I don't think she's capable of telling a lie, and besides, she's getting ready to go Canadian which I don't think the pope would do...
4. For a while I thought it was Rexi but he has cut out of here lately...
5. StlMom has a picture of a pope for her avatar - Hint! Hint!...
6. Pontifite (direct reference to papal-ity) just posted (01-26-11, 7:13 p.m.), "Let me just tell you Phatmassers that yuo are the nicest people on the internet." which indicates (papal?) approval of this social networking site, but the post has a spelling error in it and we all know the real pope is infallible....
7. Papist?... Hmmm... naw - too obvious...
8. Ignatius of Loyola... could be!... she's got Queen Elizabeth the Two-th for her avatar, and the pope did just go to England, [i]a-n-d m-e-t t-h-e q-u-e-e-n[/i]!!!
9. LIllabet...Teresa Benedicta...Vee8... I guess it could be any of them - the pope posing as his exact opposite demographic....
10. DUH!! HOW THICK AM I? WHY DOES IT ALWAYS TAKE ME SO LONG TO FIGURE OUT THE OBVIOUS?....

[size="7"][/size]HASAN[size="7"][/size] [size="6"][/size]IS THE POPE'S PHATMASS PERSONA!!![size="6"][/size][size="5"][/size]

[Pontifite 7 of 10]

[quote name='Luigi' timestamp='1296193385' post='2205603']
6. Pontifite (direct reference to papal-ity) just posted (01-26-11, 7:13 p.m.), "Let me just tell you Phatmassers that yuo are the nicest people on the internet." which indicates (papal?) approval of this social networking site, but the post has a spelling error in it and we all know the real pope is infallible....
demographic....
[/quote]
Maybe I was trying to throw you off...

[Ed Normile]

I would think that Pope Benedict rarely if ever goes online, he would be hard pressed for the time in his demanding schedule. I am certain he would have others who would be up on this stuff and keep him informed of it. I always wince when a Pope lends his name to something like a review of internet activities or current popular media, I remember back when Pope John Paul II stated that Bruce Springsteen's music and life was an inspiration to young catholics everywhere, his music being positive and his marriage as a catholic was a good example to the youth, it was not even a month later the news broke about BS having an affair with the female band member whom he abandoned and divorced his wife over.

I was wondering if Pope Benedict XVI is saying with this quote "[b]Pope Benedict also warned about the dangers of falsifying one's online profile and creating a "parallel existence[/b]." if he means that using a screen name or a knickname in chatrooms and forums is inherently sinful, or maybe just being misleading will allow one to be more crass and uncharitable and even more outrageous in their online offerings as their real name is not attached to their produce? I agree with that though, if you hide behind a false name you are not totally accountable for what you produce and can easily adapt another persona at your whim, this could lead to many abuses under that guise without real worry about repercussions.

ed

Edited January 28, 2011 by Ed Normile

[MIKolbe]

[quote name='Luigi' timestamp='1296193385' post='2205603']
Given that an individual can portray her/himself as anything s/he'd like when creating an e-persona, I feel compelled to ask...

Awright, which one of yous is the pope??
2. MKolbe? Naw, couldn't be!...
[/quote]

es könnte nicht mich. Sie sind richtig.

[4588686]

[quote name='Luigi' timestamp='1296193385' post='2205603']
Given that an individual can portray her/himself as anything s/he'd like when creating an e-persona, I feel compelled to ask...

Awright, which one of yous is the pope??
1. Sternhauser maybe - certainly the German-est name on the board...
2. MKolbe? Naw, couldn't be!...
3. I'd suspect CatherineM but she's declared herself married and I don't think she's capable of telling a lie, and besides, she's getting ready to go Canadian which I don't think the pope would do...
4. For a while I thought it was Rexi but he has cut out of here lately...
5. StlMom has a picture of a pope for her avatar - Hint! Hint!...
6. Pontifite (direct reference to papal-ity) just posted (01-26-11, 7:13 p.m.), "Let me just tell you Phatmassers that yuo are the nicest people on the internet." which indicates (papal?) approval of this social networking site, but the post has a spelling error in it and we all know the real pope is infallible....
7. Papist?... Hmmm... naw - too obvious...
8. Ignatius of Loyola... could be!... she's got Queen Elizabeth the Two-th for her avatar, and the pope did just go to England, [i]a-n-d m-e-t t-h-e q-u-e-e-n[/i]!!!
9. LIllabet...Teresa Benedicta...Vee8... I guess it could be any of them - the pope posing as his exact opposite demographic....
[b]10. DUH!! HOW THICK AM I? WHY DOES IT ALWAYS TAKE ME SO LONG TO FIGURE OUT THE OBVIOUS?....

HASAN IS THE POPE'S PHATMASS PERSONA!!![/b]
[/quote]

You cracked the code. I guess some lucky duck just won himself a free pass to heaven. Go the the Vatican and see Adolphus to Swiss Guard about filling out the appropriate paperwork.