New media after the pandemic in the light of Francis’ teaching

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed ‘signs of the times’ that the Church should explain in the light of the Gospel. Pope Francis has no doubts that they will contribute to major cultural changes: those who only wish to improve existing systems and rules are contradicting the reality. The disclosure of our illusory safeguards, the inability to act together, breakdown – although we are ‘hyper-connected’, should therefore result in the development of a new culture of communication between people. The aim of the article is to reflect on the place of new media in human life after the pandemic in the light of the teaching of Pope Francis. Although the media significantly influence the quality of life and the communicative abilities of a person, sometimes they reduce the person to the role of an object in a network of things connected with each other (IoT, Internet of Things). According to Francis, it is therefore necessary to discover the physicality of human relations in spite of the progressing virtualization, the ability to listen to others and meet people in the real world, as well as to see God the Creator as a model of communicating with others. Such an attitude will help build – apart from Internet of Things – also a community of people and use tools for the good of people.