The three-day conference highlighted the transformative potential of communication in advancing the Church’s mission. The Salesian Congregation had a strong presence at the event, with participants including Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communications for the Salesians of Don Bosco; Sr. Maria Ausilia De Siena, General Councillor for Communication for the Salesian Sisters; Fr. Harris Pakkam, Director of Agenzia Info Salesiana (ANS); and Fr. Maciej Makula, from the Social Communication Sector of the Salesian Congregation.
The conference served as an essential platform for dialogue, training, and collaboration, addressing the challenges and opportunities of Catholic communication in the modern world. It featured an engaging program of keynote speeches, testimonies, and discussions led by prominent experts in communication and evangelization.
The opening day began with an audience with the Holy Father at the Apostolic Palace, followed by sessions at the Pontifical Urbanianum University. The first session focused on mapping the media environment, with a keynote address by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, who tackled the pressing issues of disinformation and polarization in the media. She urged Catholic communicators to create spaces of hope. Fr. Paolo Benanti, a theologian and expert in artificial intelligence, followed with a keynote on the transformative impact of AI on communication.
A panel on social media and Catholic influencers explored the Church’s digital engagement, moderated by Sr. Nina Krapić. A significant highlight of the day was the keynote session in the afternoon by Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Cardinal Tagle provided a spiritual reflection on communication challenges, offering a Christian perspective on fostering hope and unity in the face of modern issues. The day concluded with Eli Pariser sharing insights on cultivating pluralistic and civic-minded online communities. Interactive Q&A sessions throughout the day allowed participants to engage deeply with the topics discussed.
The second day centered on storytelling, collaboration, and practical workshops. A keynote by Colum McCann emphasized the power of narratives to bridge divides and build communion. This was followed by a panel that showcased impactful storytelling from diverse global contexts. Another panel examined how communication can foster relationships with youth and marginalized communities while addressing disinformation and crises.
The afternoon workshops covered topics such as shaping a meaningful Catholic digital ecosystem, best practices for liturgy broadcasting, communication strategies for engaging audiences in the AI era, and media literacy and responsible media engagement. The day concluded with a special Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. The celebration, marking the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, was a spiritual highlight of the event.
The final day focused on synodal work and collective reflection. Participants engaged in linguistic group discussions to reflect on challenges, share insights, and propose actionable strategies for the future. These discussions emphasized the importance of networking, synergy, communion, and effective storytelling as Church communicators.
Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect for the Dicastery for Communications, expressed his satisfaction at fostering collaboration between the Dicastery and global Catholic communication networks. He stressed that building relationships and networking are crucial for advancing the Church’s mission with unity and effectiveness.
Fr. Gildasio Mendes, reflecting on the conference, stated, “Communication is about establishing relationships and strengthening networks and collaboration. This conference has provided an ideal platform to unite and motivate Global Catholic Communicators to prepare themselves, dream together, and sow seeds of hope.”
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to innovative and collaborative communication strategies that will propel the Church’s mission of evangelization across the globe. It was a significant step toward fostering global cooperation and addressing the challenges of communication in the digital age.
