Monterrey (Fides Service) - In his message for World Communications Day 2002 Pope John Paul II underlined the importance of putting new technology, particularly the world wide web, at the service of mission. "The Internet can offer magnificent opportunities for evangelisation if it is used with competence and keen awareness of its strong points and weak points", wrote the Holy Father. Taking up the challenge, a 1st Continental Conference on the Church and Info-Technology" will be held in Monterrey, Mexico 2-5 April. The event, entitled "Towards a network of answers and aid" is organised jointly by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the Council of Latin American Bishops' Conferences CELAM, the Mexican Bishops' Conference and the archdiocese of Monterrey.
The Conference intends to reflect on the new means of technology, the consequent cultural inter-change and how the Church can use it IT to proclaim the Gospel. Another aim is to analyse the social-cultural effects of modern technology on the different cultures in Catholic South America. The speakers at the Conference will include well known personalities such as Manuel Castells, Derrik de Kerckhove, Eulio Ferrer and Rafael Ranger Sistman, as well as leading Church members such as Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos who will address the theme "The religious phenomenon: evangelisation in the digital era". See programme in Spanish at www.fides.org. RZ (Fides Service 4/3/2003 EM lines 24 Words: 314)