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Dear young people, 

“whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10: 31).

Today I am writing to you with a message of care regarding your well-being in the digital world. Whether we are online or offline, the Bible verse mentioned above reminds us to do everything for the glory of God. We all recognize the importance of the internet in your lives and want to support you in navigating it safely and responsibly.

The digital world is a public square, a meeting place where connections are made, new friends are met, experiences are shared and knowledge is consolidated in ways that are meant to contribute to personal and communal growth. The Church also recognizes that "emails, text messages, social networks and chats can also be fully human forms of communication" (Pope Francis, Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 50th World Communications Day, 2023). We use these tools and apps to facilitate our interactions with others. However, like any public space, the internet also presents potential dangers. It is essential to be aware of these risks and to engage with the internet in a way that promotes your well-being and respects the dignity of others.

Dear young friends, to navigate the internet safely and responsibly, it is important to cultivate certain virtues: Prudence is necessary to see clearly the potential for good and evil in this new medium and to respond creatively to its challenges and opportunities. Justice is needed, especially in working to close the digital divide, ensuring that everyone has access to the benefits of the internet. Fortitude, or courage, is essential for standing up for truth, altruism, and decency in the face of negativity and harmful content. And temperance is needed for a self-disciplined approach to the internet, using it wisely and only for good (Pontifical Council for Social Communications, The Church and Internet, 2002, No. 12). These words, carefully chosen by the Church, show how important wisdom and vigilance are needed in our daily online operations.

The internet offers opportunities to form relationships and connect with others. However, it is important to be mindful of the quality of these connections. As it goes, online dealings can become inhuman, and “things” we post can bring hatred or contribute to the building of an un-Christian environment. As Jesus’ beloved young friends, strive therefore to build authentic relationships based on mutual respect and genuine connection. As “likes” increase and “followers” admire our contents, there is the challenge to be authentic and faithful, always staying away from the temptation of building an artificial profile for oneself. With this comes the call to avoid sharing words and images that are degrading to human beings, that promote hatred and intolerance, that mock the other and bully them because of their difference, or that exploit the weak and defenseless. As young people, I trust you have the ability to use the internet for good, to promote learning, communication, true friendship, and community building. I write these words because I share the Church’s view that young people in particular need to be taught “not only to be good Christians when they are recipients but also to be active in using all the aids to communication that lie within the media...So, young people will be true citizens of that age of social communications which has already begun”" (The Church and Internet, No. 7). A (young) Christian stays away from the fake or the mask, and chooses the real, for our Lord is Real.

Dear young friends, I call on you to be responsible digital citizens, promoting respect, dialogue, and friendship online. During this Holy Year, may we be the pilgrims of Hope on the internet as well, fully aware that a word we say, a comment we write, a content we share, or an image we upload can have a positive impact on the lives of our people, should we choose to go for the attitude that serves the common good and reflects our identity as God’s beloved children. When we treat each other with care and love, we contribute to the building of an online society which is healthy, safe, and worth embracing. May you use the internet wisely and responsibly, always seeking to promote the good of others and to build a more just and compassionate world. As the internet is also a place where traps are of incommensurable quantity, you may want to invest in digital literacy to develop your knowledge, skills and attitudes to handle your online presence ethically and effectively.

To sum it up, the Church calls on you, my dear friends, to approach the internet with prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, building authentic relationships and avoiding the pitfalls of cyberspace. By using the internet for good and promoting responsible digital citizenship, you can contribute to a more just and compassionate world. This paper published my sharing on “respect for others on social media”. Connecting that sharing to this one will facilitate the understanding that “love of other and of self” on the internet means caring.

Christian offline, Christian online. May Christ guide you in all your endeavors.

Yours,

Dominique Mukonda, CICM