From Archangels to Virtual Pilgrims: A Brief History of Papal Digital Mobilization as Soft Power

Religions

Johannes Ludwig Löffler¹ 

[1] Center for Religion and Modernity, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;

关键词: mobilization;    pilgrimage;    internet;    John Paul II;    Benedict XVI;    Francis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rel12080657

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The perpetual public display of successful mass mobilization and pilgrimage has become a pillar of papal soft power. During the 20th century, the papacy had repeatedly demonstrated its ability to use new technologies for public communication, media content production and mass mobilization. John Paul II endorsed the establishment of the first Vatican website and an official papal e-mail account, which provided Catholics a new form of communication with the Holy Father. During the pontificate of Benedict XVI, the papacy created several Twitter accounts, which would become the backbone of papal digital mobilization. Francis built on the success of his predecessors as he initiated the modernization of the Holy See’s media department. However, with the growth of the Internet and the stress test of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mechanics of mobilization, pilgrimage and power have considerably changed. With the religious role of the popes taken as a given, the paper looks into the history of papal mobilization, the role of the Internet and why it is not used to its full potential yet.

【 授权许可】

Unknown