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It 's the theme of communication the red wire of the work of the last
General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which took place in the Vatican
last October 7 to 28. A theme no longer avoidable that we dealt with an
exceptional expert: Don Paolo Padrini which we asked some questions.
Don Paolo Padrini, 38 years of Novi Ligure (AL), is among the most
well-known journalists and web communicators: among his projects is
famous all over the world iBreviary application for the iPhone and iPad
platform, which leads the Catholic prayer of the Breviary for the first
time in the world and in five languages. Collaborator of the Vatican
(PCCS) for the project Pope2You (the Pope for young people), Don Padrini
from 2010 is working with the Custody of the Holy Land to coordinate the
design of Internet sites. Since 2007 he collaborates with the group
"Blogosfere", the most important bloggers’ network of Italian
information, taking care of the blog "Passi Nel deserto/Steps In The
Desert" and creating a publishing activity, attentive to issues of
communication, education, society and of course to religious themes read
with a view of open dialogue to the secular world.
In 2010, he founded the teamwork Mediacath (www.mediacath.org
<http://www.mediacath.org/>) to provide ecclesial and social
communication and advice and design of publishing applications for iPad
and iPhone.
Mediacath has served San Paolo Digital, Edizioni Tracce, ed. Papillon,
the Cinematografo (Rivista dell’Ente dello Spettacolo/Review of The
Performing Arts).
Don Padrini is training on the themes of web communication and new media
with Catholic and public schools and businesses, taking courses and
coordinating with the CEI –Conferenza Episcopale Italiana/Italian
Episcopal Conference, and in particular with the Ufficio Comunicazioni
Sociali/Office of Social Communications.
You are graduated from the Pontifical Lateran University with a thesis
on chat "time and place of the meeting and communication." In your view
it is really possible to speak of the Christian message and
evangelization also in the chat? Through your practical experience how
can it be?
"I think we should start from a premise: each instrument defines some
filter and can become a wall or a window in our communication with
others. Knowing the tricks and the operation of the tools you use, you
must always keep in mind that on the other side there is still and
always a person that I have to get in touch. I'll have to be aware,
however, that with the other person I have not to limit my
relationships to the use of the internet, but also I can meet her
through mi chat and / or social networks those are now an integral part
of the chat with tools like face-book. Clearly must be a contact managed
seriously, responsibly, seeking additional options for further study,
from a chat to a relationship of correspondence by e-mail, then maybe go
to a face to face confrontation, if the opportunity allows. In my
experience, it happened to approach people in need of spiritual
direction, and beginning meet them through knowledge occurred in chat. I
have not, however, limited to this medium. Indeed. For spiritual support
I've gone from a contact via chat, for the first greetings. This is an
help, that a person will find a priest on the other side that can listen
even for a few minutes, and spend some of his time as a sign of
response. Then, of course, you have to make sure that, through that open
door, pass a profound dialogue, which, by its very nature, can not find
in a chat line a suitable place of confrontation."
Yours was defined an intense pastoral activity to digital vocation. What
characteristics should have a pastoral activity on the internet? And
about tools like iPad what precautions should be used for "hole in the
middle" and get the attention of those who are surfing?
"If you allow me the pun, to be shepherds on the internet, is important
to remember ... to be pastors. Internet is a place inhabited by many
people, starting with me. If I, who am a priest, stay in a pastoral
attitude such as to convey encounter not with me, but through me with
Jesus who is listening, welcoming, responding, who does not judge, but
He converts and changes hearts, then it is natural that this instrument
can have the size of a pastoral meeting place. That is, if I'm in the
pastoral attitude, then the pastoral encounter is created. The pastoral
nature of the instrument is the level of my pastoral attitude at the
meeting’s time. This without forgetting that there are tools that can
achieve to certain results and not to others. But, fortunately, we have
not only a tool to work with, but we have many. For which reason, within
some media diet, it is possible to be good shepherds also using these
means. We are shepherds inside, so we have to live intensely and
truthfulness about ourselves as pastors of the Church, even over the
internet.
As for the second question, we have to learn about all the tools. Each
instrument has its own language. An iPad has its own, it tells me of
things, changes my perception to reality and things that inhabit it. The
first thing to do, then, is to know the instrument. If we know, we can
puncture it. I use another expression: shape it, change it, modify it.
The tools are powerful, of course. But we can model them to our
interests and our pastoral needs. A tool such as the iPad, for example,
can be very helpful and able to transmit the idea that it is important
to pray and read the Scriptures. It is clear that I shall not use it
during the Masses, because the iPad has a communication and a language
that is not suitable for a liturgical use because a M
tool notul, of course. But youissal has another type of language
being another type’s tool".
How to organize a concert in the Parish? How to travel between blogs
and social networks? To answer these and other questions about these
topics, many dioceses are enabled to offer training courses for those
who are interested in the Parishes of the communication aspects. In your
view, the Dioceses have fully understood the role of these media? And in
the Synod just ended this was a really emphasized aspect?
"We know that our Dioceses, through the information system issued to the
CEI, have developed a great potential and have made great strides in
terms of development tools. If nothing else, because they understood
that it is right to adopt these instruments to be intelligently used. So
there are welcome constantly starting training courses and activities
related to the knowledge of the media, in my opinion they are very
important and equally useful.
With regard to the Synod, certainly the fact that it was already set to
the new evangelization, has given a communication voice regardless of
the discourse on technical data that would be out of context in a Synod.
I must say that, by my view’s point, there have been several interesting
speeches, like that of Archbishop Celli, President of the Pontifical
Council for Social Communications, which focused on the theme of
languages and new communication tools and the need for the Church to
make these media the inhabited places in which we meet the demands of
today's man."
How to reconcile such sophisticated instruments with a religious
community of consecrated men and women including those belonging to the
contemplative orders, which increasingly tends to age and therefore
unaccustomed to certain acquaintances with iPad, smartphones and pc? How
can religious men and women be in step with the times in this area?
"I would say taking especially into account some elements. First, for
religious persons exists a dimension: the rule of life. Within this
dynamic, the use of these instruments can find space for an healthy use.
So, you have to manage these resources within the rule of your
community. Second, I would say a very special attention: be careful to
propose a use of these tools in a serene manner without pushing too
hard. Because there is a risk that these instruments are considered
places of otherness from the religious community. Almost escape, to
create external relations, leading us to think that our is a limiting
relationship that doesn’t satisfy us. That would be depressing for our
condition. I am a diocesan priest, but I have lived in the seminary. So,
I had an experience of community. I think one of the most destructive
things would be to use these tools as places of ultra community,
meaning additional to that of our membership. Instead, they can become
places of evangelization, of meeting. But in my opinion always moderate
in community life. It is not unlike the reasoning goes within families.
The important thing is to talk about these tools at home between parents
and children. The important thing is to let these tools enter fully in
family dynamics. I believe that the right way for religious men and
women is to bring these tools with the proper attention and due respect
for the age, the difficulties and sensitivities of each one. But slowly
and with intelligent use. Studying. And placing the question: what can I
effectively do with these tools in religious life? What would be rather
harmful?"
By the Synod it was clear that the crucial challenge is playing in terms
of communication. The Primate of the Finnish Orthodox Church, Archbishop
Leo of Karelia, spoke too that "evangelization is not starting by the
preaching, but by listening" indicating silence as "the best way to be
truly partners in a dialogue with the world." Are you agree with this
assertion? And how can you reconcile or better adapt it to the
information highway?
"I think that this assertion is adapted when silence is conceived as a
moment of listening. Listening is a fundamental dimension and I believe
that the use of these tools is a vehicle capable of great listening to
intercept the yearnings and hopes, joys and sufferings of our world.
From this point of view, what is to be found is a thoughtful use of
these tools, a careful use in the wake of listening and silence, in the
sense of space that I leave for the other and to his ideas, to relate
also in view of a conversion, work of the whole Christian community. We
are all in the position of people converted to the Word of Jesus. This
listening to the world is an important, I would say fundamental
dimension, in the light of the Council's teaching, celebrating the
fiftieth anniversary of the works’ start."
You have founded AdEthic, an advertising network on ethical grounds at
the disposal of the Catholic and secular. In the light of the
consideration that advertising is an integral part of communication, how
started this project and on what assumptions is based?
"The project started from the premise that our Catholic websites have
the need to live and support themselves through advertising, which is a
source of livelihood for all sites both lay and Catholics. It is born of
the consideration that the advertising is not a dirty thing in itself,
but we must learn to manage it for ourselves. Let's say, however, with a
pastoral perspective of intervention on this tool. So, we wanted to make
the time of advertising as a time to have an ethical value. Therefore,
we aim to offer an advertising consistent with our values
and
proposing important
and
not others values. To add the fact that the proceeds of the produced
advertising is intended to support initiatives of charity and
solidarity. In some ways, it shows that it is possible through a
corporate job to do good for others, produce wealth to be shared, and
ultimately do good works to be distributed to the whole society."
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