Commenting on the agreement with Google, which has led to the birth of a YouTube channel dedicated to Benedict XVI, the prelate told AsiaNews that "the pope asked to reach out to people, with a spirit of dialogue and respect." The project has proved a success from the start: 700 thousand visitors a week, and in one year 250 million hits have been registered.  

The prelate stresses the importance of "witness through the media" even though these, at times, make veiled attacks and spread false news about the pope and the Church. We must take advantage of this opportunity, he adds, to "purify our hearts" and enjoy the mission that is entrusted to us to proclaim the word of God, "believing in Him and being witnesses of love."

In Bangladesh there are more than 10 million internet users and the network, continues Mgr. Celli, is a tool for bishops, priests and laity to "announce to the world that God is near." The bishop visited the Christian center for telecommunications in Dhaka, and was able to see an example of the love of God because "Muslims, Hindus and Christians work side by side" Under the spirit of "solidarity, peace and justice."    

The President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications states that "new technologies offer a new opportunity to improve relations between people," contrasting the logic of confessional fundamentalism. "The central point of our religion - said the prelate - is not the doctrine, but the person, Christ. Christians in the global village have a responsibility to proclaim the Gospel also in the digital world. "  

Archbishop Celli concludes by recalling that the visit to Bangladesh also serves to "encourage the Church to enter the vast virtual world" as expressed by Benedict XVI and, before that, by Pope John Paul II. And in this light, he observes, the service that AsiaNews carries out is "important."