By Father Peter Choy Wai-man
Today, digital culture is an inescapable part of our lives, with various social media platforms enabling us to communicate across geographic and cultural boundaries. While this is not the same as face-to-face interaction, it is still meaningful, impactful, and authentic. Beyond simple contact, social media provides a way to genuinely connect with others, engage in meaningful dialogue, express solidarity, and alleviate feelings of isolation and suffering.
For example, on Pope Francis’ social media accounts, we often find posts that say: “Thank you, Francis! I feel like you would talk to me even if we never met… you know me… you are in my prayers as I am in yours… I love you.” Another post reads, “Francis, every time I read one of your messages, I am reminded of God’s love for us. You show me what it means to be a true disciple of Christ. Even though you may never read this, I want to thank you for guiding me back to the light of God’s love.”
In 2023, the Dicastery for Communication issued a document titled “Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media.” The document emphasises that today’s digital culture should not be ignored by the Church; rather, it is a valuable space to preach the gospel and fulfill its mission.
Citing Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, the document highlights that social media can be viewed as an alternative “road to Jericho.” In the parable, the priests and Levites pass by the injured man without offering help.
Similarly, on today’s digital highway, it is not enough to simply identify as a “Christian.” Many profiles or accounts may promote religious content, but their interactions can often contradict the gospel, filled with insults, hostility, and violence.
In contrast, the Good Samaritan approaches the injured person with care and compassion, tending to his wounds and taking him to an inn for continued care. We aspire for social media to become a more humane and empathetic space.
All of us have experienced different roles represented in the parable. We carry the scars of those wounded on the road, exhibit the dark sides of the robbers, demonstrate the bystander mentality of the passerby, and embody the compassion of the Good Samaritan.
Today, we should leverage social media to spread the gospel, act as Good Samaritans, bear the pain of others, and cultivate connections that evolve into genuine encounters rather than inciting greater hatred and resentment. By caring for an injured person, we make that person our neighbour. Our goal is not only to heal physical wounds but also to mend the divisions and animosities that exist between different social groups.
