Pope Benedict XVI is calling on his priests to use social media. Photo credit: Pacopus

Pope Benedict XVI has asked priests and clergy members around the world to use social media and blogging to get the message of the Gospel out, Catholic News Service reported on Saturday. According to a statement released from the Vatican, Pope Benedict said, “”Priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word.”

While the Pope said that priests could not ignore traditional means of pastoral care, digital technology offers a wealth of opportunities for a “fruitful priestly ministry.”

The call to blogging arms is part of his World Communications Day speech; according to The Telegraph, the Pope’s request is thought to be the first time a major religious leader has focused on new media technology as a means of preaching.