Even the omnipresent are using the internet these days it seems. Now the Pope is getting wired with the help of Digital Equipment Corp, and using the internet to reach anyone in the world who is searching. The Vatican has put all of the teachings of John Paul II, his predecessors John Paul I and Paul VI on the Internet in six different languages, said a report last Friday in Il Sole-24 Ore. Logging onto http://www.vatican.va, surfers will find their religious instruction in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. By 2000, we want to insert all of the pontifical teachings of this century, said monsignor Claudio Maria Celli, administrative secretary for the Holy Sea’s heritage. Accessible in 127 countries, Celli said the site received over 8 million hits in the last month alone. We have at heart particularly those countries where religious freedom doesn’t exist. In those countries now, people who want to study our teachings will have them at their disposition. The Vatican is also studying how to put works from its library and museum on-line. We don’t want to offer guided visits, says Celli. We prefer more critical courses. For the library, for instance, we would like to present one manuscript per month, something of rigorous scholarship and high cultural value, but that will also allow a dialog with the person in front of the computer. We want to reach those people who are searching. The site will play a role for the Jubilee 2000 celebration as well, says Celli. We have to put documents and reflections at the disposition of local churches that will help them prepare for the event, he said. Celli admitted that access to electronic religious documents will be easier in the US than in Zaire. But he explained that the Vatican has tried to account for countries will little communications infrastructure. In certain areas where there is a lack of electrical current, we have installed solar panels. And where there are few telephone connections we will use radio transmissions, he said.
