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Pope Francis and the sea of digital screens Pope Francis and the sea of digital screens
(7 months later)
People gathered on the piazza of St Peter's to witness the arrival of Pope Francis I light up the evening with the mass of screens they are holding up: as they stand in this vast public space looking at the distant figures in front of the basilica, they are simultaneously seeing it close up on tablet computers and phones.People gathered on the piazza of St Peter's to witness the arrival of Pope Francis I light up the evening with the mass of screens they are holding up: as they stand in this vast public space looking at the distant figures in front of the basilica, they are simultaneously seeing it close up on tablet computers and phones.
It is not hard to see what this says about modern culture – digital technology is transforming the way people experience mass events. You can be in the crowd and watching it, at the same time – not to mention sharing pictures of the scene, tweeting your instant reaction, and so forth, and so forth.It is not hard to see what this says about modern culture – digital technology is transforming the way people experience mass events. You can be in the crowd and watching it, at the same time – not to mention sharing pictures of the scene, tweeting your instant reaction, and so forth, and so forth.
But a more interesting question might be – what does this picture reveal about Catholicism itself? In fact it touches on a central aspect of the relationship between popes and people, church and flock, that has changed yet also remained constant for centuries and centuries.But a more interesting question might be – what does this picture reveal about Catholicism itself? In fact it touches on a central aspect of the relationship between popes and people, church and flock, that has changed yet also remained constant for centuries and centuries.
Tear your eyes from the screens held aloft, and this picture reveals a high moment in one of the world's greatest architectural settings. Gianlorenzo Bernini created the enfolding expansive piazza in front of St Peter's in the 17th century. He designed it with two symmetrical colonnades that emerge at an inward angle from close to the basilica then curve outward like embracing arms: the scale of these structures is colossal, but they are not cold or inhuman because Bernini animated them with rotund columns and sparkling statues. They are heavenly. This piazza therefore becomes a special place, between earth and paradise, where the people can meet their pope.Tear your eyes from the screens held aloft, and this picture reveals a high moment in one of the world's greatest architectural settings. Gianlorenzo Bernini created the enfolding expansive piazza in front of St Peter's in the 17th century. He designed it with two symmetrical colonnades that emerge at an inward angle from close to the basilica then curve outward like embracing arms: the scale of these structures is colossal, but they are not cold or inhuman because Bernini animated them with rotund columns and sparkling statues. They are heavenly. This piazza therefore becomes a special place, between earth and paradise, where the people can meet their pope.
In the 17th century as in the 21st, the problem for such a vast religion was how to communicate, how to embrace the masses and give them a sense of direct involvement with the pope. In more recent times, Popemobiles and even a Twitter account have been used to achieve this intimacy. In this picture the intimacy of the iPad mingles with the generosity of Bernini's piazza. Both make people feel connected.In the 17th century as in the 21st, the problem for such a vast religion was how to communicate, how to embrace the masses and give them a sense of direct involvement with the pope. In more recent times, Popemobiles and even a Twitter account have been used to achieve this intimacy. In this picture the intimacy of the iPad mingles with the generosity of Bernini's piazza. Both make people feel connected.
Maybe the age of personal digital devices and live streaming captured by this picture connects too with the name the new pope has taken. He is the first pope ever to be named after the charismatic holy man who electrified central Italy in the middle ages. The significance of taking the name of St Francis of Assisi may seem to be all about humility – even a cult of poverty – but there is another way of seeing St Francis: as a great communicator. The reason his message of poverty gripped Italians in the 13th century was that he expressed it so well in sermons and songs. The legend that St Francis once preached a sermon to a flock of birds, and they listened, is not only testimony to his love of nature, but his eloquence.Maybe the age of personal digital devices and live streaming captured by this picture connects too with the name the new pope has taken. He is the first pope ever to be named after the charismatic holy man who electrified central Italy in the middle ages. The significance of taking the name of St Francis of Assisi may seem to be all about humility – even a cult of poverty – but there is another way of seeing St Francis: as a great communicator. The reason his message of poverty gripped Italians in the 13th century was that he expressed it so well in sermons and songs. The legend that St Francis once preached a sermon to a flock of birds, and they listened, is not only testimony to his love of nature, but his eloquence.
This original Francis inspired a revolution in communication. The medieval church was an elite of Latin-speaking clerics. Francis taught it to speak in the vernacular, in a humane and sympathetic way, to ordinary people, peasants and artisans. This revolutionary discovery of the freedom and beauty of popular speech revolutionised Italian culture and is arguably the true beginning of the Renaissance, for Francis inspired artists like Giotto to create moving, simple, human images that share vernacular eloquence of his preaching. A great example is Giotto's harrowing portrayal of the Death of St Francis.This original Francis inspired a revolution in communication. The medieval church was an elite of Latin-speaking clerics. Francis taught it to speak in the vernacular, in a humane and sympathetic way, to ordinary people, peasants and artisans. This revolutionary discovery of the freedom and beauty of popular speech revolutionised Italian culture and is arguably the true beginning of the Renaissance, for Francis inspired artists like Giotto to create moving, simple, human images that share vernacular eloquence of his preaching. A great example is Giotto's harrowing portrayal of the Death of St Francis.
So one thing is certain – the first Francis would have loved iPads and iPhones and Facebook and everything. Perhaps the new Francis will, too. It is clear that once again the Catholic church needs to renew not just its institutional life but its ability to relate to basic human hopes and fears – to speak to people in their own language. Only a fool would think it incapable of such a change. It has happened before, when St Francis was tweeting with the birds.So one thing is certain – the first Francis would have loved iPads and iPhones and Facebook and everything. Perhaps the new Francis will, too. It is clear that once again the Catholic church needs to renew not just its institutional life but its ability to relate to basic human hopes and fears – to speak to people in their own language. Only a fool would think it incapable of such a change. It has happened before, when St Francis was tweeting with the birds.
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