The Holy Father launches the emails.

Cardinal Schotte (left), Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, and Cardinal Williams of New Zealand, head of the Episcopal Conference in Oceania, look on.

Franciscan Sister Helps Holy Father with Historic Email Event

November 22, 2001. Rome, Italy

It was an historic day in the Vatican! With a press of a key, Pope John Paul II personally emailed his Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in Oceania, to all the Bishops, Episcopal Conferences and the Nunziature in Oceania via Internet, and also placed the document officially online on the Vatican web site. Sister Judith Zoebelein, FSE, Technical Director of the Internet Office of the Holy See, and her staff had set up in the Vatican's famous Clementine Hall a laptop computer for the Holy Father and five 42" monitors for all to view the Pope's first email delivery of a papal document.

The technology worked flawlessly as the Holy Father watched the progress of his email being sent to over 50 addresses. This is the first time the Internet was used officially as an instrument of dissemination for the Magisterium. Ecclesia in Oceania is the summary document of the Synod of Bishops on Oceania which took place during the Jubilee Year.

The Internet Office staff with Cardinal Schotte and one of the large monitors showing the final page of the document after the Holy Father put it on the web site. Sister Judith Zoebelein, FSE is standing next to the monitor.

The Holy Father greets Sister Judith after the session.