The first of the great Jubilee events of the Holy Year, the Jubilee dedicated to the World of Communications, ended on Sunday. Thousands of journalists, editors and industry professionals came to Rome from 139 countries round the world and were
welcomed on Friday 24 January, to the Basilica of St John Lateran, where they took part in a penitential celebration and Mass.
The following morning, the communicators set off from Piazza Pia with the Jubilee cross, taking part in a pilgrimage of prayer towards the Holy Door of St. Peter’s along the Via della Conciliazione. After the blessing in the Basilica, the participants headed for the Paul VI Hall for a meeting organized by the Dicastery for Communication followed by an audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
The round table session on the morning of Saturday, January 25 featured the journalist Maria Ressa who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, and the Irish writer, Colum McCann.
Maria Ressa put the topic of the crisis of democracy at the center of her speech. “Collaborate, and seek the truth with moral clarity,” she told those present, “because silence in the face of injustice is complicity. Then … protect the most vulnerable and recognize your power.”
Colum McCann continued with a similar plea: “If we live in times of rupture, then the new theme must be repair,” he said. “Among the ‘pilgrims of Hope’ we honor here today are our journalists, our communicators who are in a privileged position to help tell the stories of others.”
Following the presentations, the communicators rose to welcome the arrival of Pope Francis in the Sala Nervi. Pope Francis shared a brief message, “I just wanted to say a word or two about communications. Communicating means going out of myself a little bit to give something of myself to the other. And communication is not only the transmission of news, but also the encounter with the other person. Knowing how to communicate is great wisdom, great wisdom! I am happy with this Jubilee of communicators. Your work is a work that builds … it builds up society, it builds up the Church, it makes everyone move forward, as long as it is true (…) That is such a great test. Communicating is what God does with His Son, and God’s communication with the Son is the Holy Spirit. Communicating something divine. Thank you for what you do.”
The Jubilee concluded on Sunday, January 26, with the communicators participating in a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, presided over by the Pope, on the day the Sunday of the Word of God was celebrated. ~ the official Jubilee Year website
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Cabrinian Communicators: Sr. Eliane Azevedo da Silva, MSC, General Superior of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, invited those who communicate on behalf of the Institute to Rome to participate in the Jubilee Communications meetings and liturgical rituals, saying, “I believe that positivity and boldness in communication is important. We want to go ahead in social communication presenting news that encourages people to learn about the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the mission embraced by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. The aim of the international meeting is “to strengthen the work of communication in the Cabrini world by sharing meaningful practices and experience so that together we can form the global team ‘Cabrini Communication’ for the culture of peace and hope.”
Honored to represent the Guadalupe Province were Nancy Costello, from Provincial Communications, Caitlin Della Rocca of the Cabrini Mission Foundation, and Vanessa Duenas from Guatemala. In addition to sharing practices and social media tools, the communicators also heard Fr. Pasqualetti, SBD who spoke about media/social media playing a role in democracy today as well as having the capacity to manipulate on a massive scale. Sara Braga led the communicators in group exercises designed to build unity in messaging and branding. The days together expanded and strengthened our Cabrinian ties in meaningful and practical ways and will enable us to “be messengers of hope” as Sr. Eliane stated in her closing remarks.