|PIC1|The Pope has stepped into the digital age with the launch of his own channel on YouTube.

The new channel, which features messages from the Pope and clips of his daily activities, is being launched by the Vatican in a bid to reach more of today’s younger digital generation and improve its image.

In a statement on Friday, Pope Benedict said, "It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelisation of this 'digital continent’. Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm."

The channel is available in English, German, Spanish and Italian, with plans for more languages to be added.

Speaking ahead of the Roman Catholic Church’s World Communications Day on Saturday, the Pope said social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace were a “gift to humanity” and that the Church had to “find new ways to spread voices and images of hope through the evolving communications system that surrounds our planet”.

He warned people, however, not to abandon contact with one another in the physical in favour of virtual relationships only.

"If the desire for virtual connectedness becomes obsessive, it may in fact function to isolate individuals from real social interaction while also disrupting the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development," he said.

Henrique de Castro, managing director of European sales and media solutions at YouTube.

"We are honoured that the Vatican has chosen to use the site to communicate with people across the world, and delighted that our community will have access to the words of the Pope on some of the most important issues facing the world today."


On the web: www.youtube.com/vaticanit