Artificial intelligence and traditional media. St. Peter’s Basilica brings together, in its communication, the most advanced technological solutions, even with a webcam on St. Peter’s tomb and on the Holy Door, and words in ink. For a transmission of news, interpretations, reflections, “from heart to heart”, as explained by Father Enzo Fortunato, director of communications of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter, announcing the birth of a new monthly magazine, “Piazza San Pietro”. A magazine of beauty, faith, current events and culture, as the subtitle states, which aims to «figuratively welcome every man and every woman into the embrace of Bernini’s colonnade and bring current issues to the attention of all, which will be treated by prominent personalities , concerning the Church, the world, Italy”. Subscription for 30 euros, but “those who cannot afford it will receive the new magazine for free”, assures Father Fortunato, an internal editorial team made up mainly of young people, and an external one open to contributions from newspaper directors and communication professionals, and a signature of the exception: that of the Pope who will answer readers’ questions. In the 86-page issue zero, presented in the press room, Francis resolves the doubts of a mother from Bergamo on the obligatory nature of baptism by clarifying that «baptizing a child means having trust in the Lord, in the Holy Spirit but Baptism cannot in any case be imposed on parents who don’t want it for their children.”
«The mission of the magazine», underlined Father Enzo, «is to reach the homes of every city and town, in line with the idea of an outgoing and synodal Church dear to the Pope». The idea is to build “dialogue, peace, welcome, inclusion, democracy, reconciliation” with the “contribution of everyone, of the faithful and of all the people who wish to offer suggestions, criticisms, proposals, from communication professionals as well as from the poor of St. Peter’s Square. We need everyone’s observations to correct, integrate, open up to everyone. Starting with this number zero which is intended to be a technical test of transmission.” The monthly magazine will be available in the Official Area of the Basilica or by postal subscription, while the webcams will open on December 2nd. The Pontiff himself will inaugurate them, thus allowing, as Monsignor Orazio Pepe summarized by reading the words of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the Basilica, «people to visually connect to the place that saw the burial of the apostle and preserves his memory and will allow anyone to share a prayer intention, a message, a friendly word with brothers and sisters scattered around the world.”
