Internet, a Potential Trap Yet Haven of Grace, According to Cardinal Cobo Cano
Vatican City Hosts Eucharistic Adoration Event for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers
In a significant move, the Vatican Basilica played host to over a thousand Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers from around the world for a dedicated Jubilee. This two-day event, which concluded on July 29, aimed to inspire and support these individuals as they spread the Catholic faith in modern, digital contexts.
The event was marked by Eucharistic adoration, prayer vigils, and various religious activities. Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Metropolitan of Madrid, led the prayer vigil and encouraged cooperation in the construction of a united Church. The evangelical passage from Luke with the account of the disciples at Emmaus was read during the event, while Psalm 117 (118) was recited in multiple languages.
Cardinal Cobo Cano emphasized the importance of evangelization through social media. He highlighted that adoration is a source of spiritual renewal and strength for digital missionaries, encouraging them to witness their faith authentically and build bridges with others through digital platforms. The cardinal stressed that the mission is not about winning debates but about opening windows on the discreet Gospel at the community level.
In his address, Cardinal Cobo Cano warned against the temptation of digital vanity, measuring value based on likes and living attentive to numbers. He described the ocean of pixels as a place where God is present, not through likes, but through faces that seek something more. He urged the gathering not to forget to be the voice of the poor and the victims of violence, and to be instruments of the Lord's peace.
The cardinal also emphasized a synodal approach for digital missionaries, emphasizing the importance of praying together, correcting each other, sharing resources, and working within the ecclesial network. He explained that a deep and authentic meaning of evangelization is letting oneself be found by those who need a living word.
The gathering took place after an international conference at the Auditorium Conciliazione. The challenge for Catholic influencers, according to the cardinal, is not to be mere followers, but true disciples of Jesus. He invited us to be mindful that our lives are not sustained by mere encounters or fleeting emotions.
The Eucharistic adoration event in Vatican City for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers is significant as it highlights the vital role of prayer and the Eucharist in inspiring and supporting evangelization through digital media. This event serves as a spiritual and communal moment, strengthening these missionaries and influencers as they engage in spreading the Catholic faith in modern, digital contexts.
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- The Eucharistic adoration event in Vatican City underscores the importance of technology as a means for digital evangelization, with Cardinal Cobo Cano encouraging influencers to use social-media platformsboldly and authentically to spread the Catholic faith.
- Moreover, the event emphasized the necessity of entertainment to captivate and engage digital audiences, reminding digital missionaries to consider the need of the poor, victims of violence, and the Lord's peace, integrating them into the narrative of their digital content.
