SIGNIS (the World Catholic Association for Communication) World Congress 2014 was held at the Domus Pacis Hotel in Rome from February 25 to March 1. The theme for this year’s gathering of more than 300 delegates is: “Media for a Culture of Peace: Creating Images with the New Generation”. With this theme SIGNIS continues to highlight its commitment to support the rights of young people and emboldens them to make their voices be heard and their hopes for a better tomorrow known to all peoples of the world.
Msgr. Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said that the “SIGNIS Congress is an answer to the reality of our times – confronting the Catholic media professionals from over 100 countries around the world with the changes taking place in our culture and the many expectations of hope in the world, dedicating particular attention to younger generations, and thus to our future.” He concluded by quoting Pope Francis’ words, saying that ‘if we are to meet the challenges of the future’ we are asked to have “fresh energy and imagination with dedication and serious professionalism.”
In his opening remarks, Mr. Augustine Loorthusamy, former president of SIGNIS World, pointed out the vital role of young people “in the present and in the future of the Catholic Church. That is why it is so important to engage with the new generations who grow up in a context where the only permanent thing is change.” He calls today’s youth as the “selfie” generation – so typical of the “Me-Gen” who are characterized by self-absorption. These young people are shaped by unprecedented rules and values that challenge and stimulate us to think afresh.”
The Congress was very rich with inputs given by well-known media personalities from Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia: Fr. Antonio Spadarro, SJ (Italy), Mons. Paul Tighe (Ireland), Mat Tombers (Odyssey Networks, USA), Jacques F. El Kallassi (Tele Lumiere, Noursat, Lebanon), Sean Patrick Lovett (Vatican Radio, South Africa), Chainarong (Thailand). The delegates were also free to join any of the eight parallel sessions on very relevant issues related to Communication, Media, and the Emerging Digital Culture & Challenges of the New Generation.
The audience with the Holy Father was the most-awaited day. Although, the SIGNIS delegates did not have an exclusive audience with Pope Francis, seeing him personally from a distance and listening to his voice was enough to complete our experience of Rome.
