SIGNIS World Congress 2026: communication at the service of peace

By Sr. Angella Rwezaula, Sr. Ernestina Patrick Lasway, Sr. Michelle Njeri, Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper  – Kigali, Rwanda

The first day of the SIGNIS World Congress, the afternoon of August 4 featured a series of panels addressing some of the key challenges facing Catholic communication today. Speakers reflected on synodality, care for creation, the protection of children in the digital space, peace journalism, and the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, all emphasizing the responsibility of communicators to promote human dignity and the common good.

Disciples before influencers and the challenge of AI

During the first plenary session of the Congress, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu noted that Africa is hosting the SIGNIS World Congress for the first time, demonstrating the maturity of the Church in Africa and the need for its voice to be heard at the global level. He added that the Church in Africa must no longer be treated “like a baby in a crib.”

The Archbishop stressed that “Catholic communicators must prioritize their identity as disciples over chasing online metrics, attention, or social media influence.” He added that cultural harmony does not mean flattening diverse cultures into an algorithmic monoculture, but celebrating God-given differences. Referring to Proverbs 31:8, he also reminded participants that Catholic journalists have a prophetic mandate to amplify the voices of the marginalized, the destitute and victims of abuse whom commercial algorithms often ignore.

Theological-Pastoral Director at the Dicastery for Communication, Dr. Nataša Govekar spoke about Holy Father’s Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communication and the encyclical letter Magnifica Humanitas. She addressed the impact of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that “the core challenge of AI is not technological, but anthropological”. She warned that Large Language Models increasingly shape human language and spontaneous speech, risking cognitive passivity, and she encouraged participants to embrace periods of “fasting from screens,” stressing that true human formation requires time, effort and real-world encounters.

She also called for digital platforms to be designed more like public spaces that foster trust rather than isolation and profit-driven doomscrolling. “When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value,” she said, “human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion,” adding that “no computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself or a conscience that discerns good from evil.”

Synodal communication and care for creation

The first panel focused on “Synodality: A model for peaceful coexistence and social development.” Speaking on synodal communication, Sr. Marie-Kolbe Zamora, OSF, said that synodal communication is not merely about transmitting perfect content; it requires a synodal communicator. “Synodal communicators are individuals who have experienced personal redemption in Christ, actively living that redemption, and crafting communications in direct dialogue with God rather than relying purely on strategic messaging,” she said.

On environmental communication and care for creation, Sr. Juunza C. Mwangani, Project Manager of the Emerging Farmers Initiative in Zambia, presented agriculture as a way of communicating ecological conversion. “We transform waste into helpful resources and build climate resilient and integrated farming. Our network also mentors young people and women. I believe women should be given space and empowered to tell their own stories,” she said.

Tomas Insua, President of Laudato Si’ Center of Assisi, emphasized that the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the Season of Creation should become major opportunities for Catholic communicators to amplify environmental conversation. He added that the Pope’s annual message for the World Day of Creation deserves greater visibility and cited the Church in the Philippines as an example of integrating Creation Day into pastoral programs.

Referring to the Jubilee theme of Hope, Leticia Florencio, Communications Manager for Latin America of the Laudato Si’ Movement, said that “hope should be in action” by providing information with courage, responsibility and accountability. She added that “creative communication recognizes people as protagonists of social transformation and that care for our common home is living the Gospel.”

Speakers at the panel on Environmental Communication and the Care for creation, (left to right) Leticia Florêncio, Ms. Ashley Kitisya, Sr. Juunza C. Mwangani

Protecting children and promoting peace

Another panel, featuring Sr. Patience Shinondo, RSC, Sr. Babitha Abraham Valiaparambil, FMM, Prof. Jean-Paul Niyigena and Fr. Lawrence Adu-Gyamfi, highlighted the urgent need to protect children and young people in the digital space, stressing that online exploitation and grooming are often gateways to human trafficking. Speakers called for stronger digital literacy, child-safe technology design and greater accountability from technology companies, while emphasizing the shared responsibility of families, educators, governments and faith communities. They also underlined the importance of promoting critical thinking and ensuring that digital technologies serve human dignity rather than undermine it.

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During the panel titled “Digital communication for equity, gender equality and empowerment,” John Makokha of CORAT Africa warned that digital sextortion has become one of the fastest-growing forms of technology-facilitated sexual violence affecting children and young people worldwide. While digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for education, communication and social participation, they have also increased children’s exposure to cyber-enabled exploitation. He stressed the need for rules and guidelines to better protect children in cyberspace.

Speakers at the panel on Digital communication for Equity, Gender Equality and Empowerment, Sr. Uwamariya Immaculee, Fr. Fabrizio Colombo, Dr. John Makokha, Sr. Annmarie Sanders, Rev. Fr. Chijioke Azuawusiefe

Speaking on “Peace Journalism as a Survival Model for Africa’s Catholic Media,” Dr. Josephat Mohanzi drew on Tanzania’s legacy as an “island of peace” and Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere’s vision of lighting a torch on Mount Kilimanjaro to shine hope across the continent. He said Catholic media must actively build, nurture and reinforce peace rather than merely report conflict, while noting that peace journalism requires adequate resources to give voice to communities and report on solutions.

Human dignity at the center

The discussions throughout the day emphasized the need to safeguard human dignity while engaging with technological progress. Children, as the most vulnerable, require particular protection, while Catholic communicators are called to promote hope, peace, care for creation and authentic human development. The sessions concluded with questions from participants, continuing the dialogue that characterizes the SIGNIS World Congress, which runs in Kigali through August 8.

Speakers at the panel on Protecting Children and Youth in the digital space, Sr. Patience Shinondo, Prof. Jean-Paul NIYIGENA, Sr. Babitha Abraham Valiaparambil, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Adu-Gyamfi