The Prefect for the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, has penned a Message for World Tourism Day, which takes place each year on 27 September. In his Message,  His Eminence Cardinal Turkson reflected on the theme for this year’s observance: “Tourism and Digital Transformation.” This theme, he said, focuses on how digital technology has transformed our age and our behaviours.

As reported by Vatican news, His Eminence Cardinal Turkson remarked that “World Tourism Day invites us to reflect on the contribution of technological progress not only to improve tourist products and services, but also because this progress is part of tourism’s sustainable and responsible development, towards which the growth of the sector should be oriented.” Further, the cardinal added, “The Church has always paid particular attention to the pastoral care of tourism, leisure and holidays, which allow women and men to share their values and ideals, and to grow as individuals.”

His Eminence Cardinal Turkson concluded his message reminding that “The hope that this Dicastery formulates for all, tourists and vacationers, is ‘that tourism will contribute to glorifying God, and to increasingly validating human dignity, mutual knowledge, spiritual brotherhood, refreshment of body and soul.’”