SIGNIS pledges to heed call to create relationships and networks

Paul Samasumo – Vatican City

Dr Ruffini urged Catholic communicators and media professionals gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, for the World Communication Association Congress that building trust and fostering genuine human relationships demonstrates that “another way of communicating is possible”.

In his acceptance speech after being elected SIGNIS World President, Fr. Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika, speaking in Kigali, assured the SIGNIS Assembly of Delegates gathered both online and in person that the new team would work hard to ensure inclusion, participation, the building of networks and alliances, as counselled by Dr Ruffini.

Fr. Walter, a professor who heads the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria, was elected president of the global Catholic association last Friday, 7 August 2026.  

The SIGNIS Assembly of Delegates is the association’s electoral college.

A SIGNIS plenary session in Kigali

Dr Ruffini’s challenge

In his goodwill video message, projected during the opening ceremony of the SIGNIS World Congress last week, Dr Ruffini encouraged SIGNIS members and Catholic communicators worldwide to make building genuine human relationships and creating alliances one of SIGNIS’ main goals.

“We live in difficult times. Times marked by wars, polarisation, misinformation and growing distrust … A digital ‘like’ isn’t the same as a smile in person. This is why our mission as Catholic communicators matters. Every community built on trust; every network of persons is a sign that another way of communicating is possible,” Dr Ruffini said.

He acknowledged that this was “a daunting task” but one that SIGNIS could achieve, given that its structure was already that of a global network. “And what is SIGNIS if not exactly that? Forging links between the worlds of journalism, cinema and communication in general,” Dr Ruffini reiterated.

Some of the participants at the Kigali SIGNIS World Congress

The voices of women religious

The Kigali Congress brought together three hundred Catholic communication professionals from over 40 countries around the world. The theme of the Congress was, “Digital Communication for Cultural Harmony and Environmental Wellbeing.”

For the first time, the Congress was characterised by a strong presence of women religious who demonstrated how religious sisters can contribute as key stakeholders in Church media and communication. Many participants appreciated the work that women religious do with and for marginalised communities, often at the grassroots level.

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The new executive and new board

Apart from electing a new president, the World Catholic Association for Communication also elected Ms Pamela Aleman (Canada) and Dr Magimai Pragasam (India) as the two SIGNIS World Vice-Presidents to work with Fr Walter. Other members of the SIGNIS Executive include Dr Peter Rachada Monthienvichienchai (Thailand). He was re-elected Secretary General. Ms Adriana Răcășan (Romania) was elected to serve as the association’s Treasurer.

With these elections, the new Board of Directors and new Assembly of Delegates, comprising members elected by the various SIGNIS regions, were ushered into office for a period of four years.

Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization emphasising a point

Organisational structure

As a worldwide association, SIGNIS members are national associations grouped by regions of the world. There are six regions: Africa, Latin America, North America, Pacific, Asia, and Europe, as well as an International Group, composed of international Catholic communication organisations or even international religious congregations whose charism is communication. In addition, individuals and institutions can become associate members.

All the regions and the international group are represented on the world Board of Directors that decides the policy of SIGNIS. The members of the Board are elected during regional assemblies, usually before the World Congress. From the elected regional members, two persons are seconded to sit on the global board -normally the regional president and vice.

The administrative office of SIGNIS World is situated within the Palazzo San Callisto (also known as the Palace of Saint Callixtus), in the Trastevere neighbourhood of Rome, Italy. The palace is one of the extraterritorial properties of the Holy See. Some of the Vatican’s Dicasteries, International Catholic organisations and associations are housed on this property.

The World Congress

The SIGNIS World Congress takes place every four years. It is a platform for all Catholic communicators, regardless of whether they are formal SIGNIS members, to engage in substantive discussions, exchange ideas, and contemplate the future trajectory of media and communication.

Previous SIGNIS World Congresses have taken place in Seoul, South Korea (2022); Quebec, Canada (2017); Rome, Italy (2014); Chiang Mai, Thailand (2009); Lyon, France (2005); and Rome, Italy (2001).