In a recent address, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI urged priests to discover new possibilities for carrying out their ministry and spreading the word of God, including social networking.

The Pope pointed out church communities always used modern media to foster communication and encourage dialogue. "The recent, explosive growth and greater social impact of these media make them all the more important for a fruitful priestly ministry," said The Pope. "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."

The Pope encouraged priests not only to be online, but to interact with the community and exercise their role as community leaders. With hundreds of millions using social networking sites, it's no wonder the church is keen to use the media to spread its message and save a few souls.

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