By Stella Obi
The serene city of Kigali,
Rwanda, is hosting Catholic media practitioners from across the seven
continents participating in the 2026 SIGNIS World Congress.
The congress is the flagship global gathering of the World Catholic Association
for Communication and is being held in Africa for the first time.
The conference, taking place from August 3 to August 8, 2026, at Sainte Famille
Hotel in Kigali, is themed "Digital Communication for Cultural Harmony and
Environmental Wellbeing."
The week-long event has brought together Church leaders, journalists, broadcasters,
academics, and digital communicators to examine the role of digital media in
promoting peace, intercultural dialogue, ethical communication, and
environmental responsibility.
In his remarks, the Catholic Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda,
said communication can become a ministry of healing when rooted in truth and
charity. He also emphasized the importance of communication and called for
stronger collaboration among Catholic media organizations.
In his message, Pope Leo XIV urged media practitioners to use digital
communication platforms to promote the common good, uphold human dignity,
foster truth, and encourage environmental stewardship.
Also speaking, the President of SIGNIS World, Helen Osman, called for a
stronger global network of communicators committed to transforming cultures in
the light of the Gospel while promoting human dignity, justice, and
reconciliation.
The President of SIGNIS Africa, Fr. Walter Ihejerika, encouraged participants
to work together in building credible media platforms that serve both the
Church and society.
During one of the plenary sessions, the Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for
Evangelization, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, stressed that Catholic
communicators must be disciples before influencers, urging them to use their
platforms to give voice to the voiceless.
The congress features plenary sessions, breakout panel discussions, liturgical
celebrations, and a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, offering
participants an opportunity to reflect on the lessons of Rwanda's history while
exploring the future of Catholic communication in the digital age.
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