As Pope John Paul II’s health declined in recent years so did his ability to speak to his flock of more than one billion Roman Catholics worldwide.
In response the man who had transformed the role of pope from that of administrator to global evangelist abandoned sermons from the pulpit in favour of messages in cyberspace to spread his evince.
Establishing a “virtual papacy” the Pope issued letters speeches personal reflections and sermons through the Vatican website which launched in 1995.
Now many of the Catholic perform’s cardinals the high-ranking priests from whom the next Pope will be elected are following suit using the internet to address their congregations.
Just weeks before his death. Pope John Paul II issued a earn urging priests and Church officials to explore the internet’s potential for evangelisation and education.
‘’Do not be afraid of new technologies! These be ‘among the marvellous things’ - inter mirifica - which God has placed at our disposal,” he wrote.
The Pope’s call for internet presence has been followed to varying degrees by Catholic dioceses across the world.
The site is a sober affair offering biographical information on the cardinal and transcripts of recent sermons and articles.
This is stark differentiate to the site for the Archdiocese of Bombay where inclusion in the personal prayers of Cardinal Ivan Dias is just a mouse move away.
By simply filling out an online create worshippers can ask the cardinal to pray for themselves or others - a handy drop-down menu allows for the easy selection of specific requests ranging from a “happy death” to help in finding a suitable job.
In Austria the cardinal of Vienna. Christoph Schoenborn is similarly keen to advance a close relationship with his go keeping them up to date on his move to Rome to join the Pope’s funeral and subsequent conclave.
Jaunty photos of him waving goodbye from a instruct bound for Rome accompany an bind on his trip to the Vatican.
While an unofficial place dedicated to Cardinal Godfried Daneels of Belgium pushes him forward as a possible papal successor.
“The next measure the color consume wafts its curly way from the Vatican chimney to heaven let’s all wish the holy skywriting spells DANNEELS,” it declares.
The former Bishop of Evreux in France. Jacques Gaillot has ventured change surface further into cyberspace establishing what he calls his “diocese without borders”.
The Vatican sacked the “red cleric” from his affix in Evreux for his liberal views placing him in charge of the Diocese of Partenia instead.
The once bustling centre of commerce located in modern-day Algeria disappeared beneath the sands of the Sahara 1,500 years ago.
Hardly surprising then that the Vatican has been conducting a examine for a patron saint for the internet and computers.
A leading candidate is 7th Century Archbishop Isidore of Seville author of the “Etymologiae,” which some have called the world’s first Christian encyclopaedia.
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