By Matters India Reporter
Vatican, Sept.24, 2024: Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication Paolo Ruffini on September 24 inaugurated the ‘Illuminaire’ website.
This marked the launch of the first national Catholic media conference, organized by the Salesian communication departments in Rome and India, in collaboration with the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and other national Church bodies in India.
The two-day event is set to take place on November 23-24 at St. John’s Medical College in Bengaluru, India. The conference, titled “ILLUMINAIRE: Nurturing Digital Stewardship in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” is exclusively designed for priests, religious, and those in consecrated life.
Approximately 350 participants are expected to engage in ten sessions and six parallel workshops led by experts in the field. Special features of the conference include interactive media workshops, talks by international speakers, hands-on training, and opportunities for networking and collaboration.
In his remarks during the inauguration of the website, Ruffini, the first layman to head a Vatican office, said he was confident that Illuminaire will greatly benefit all priests and religious of India involved in the field of communication.
A member of the Social Communication Sector in Rome and the conference coordinator Father Pakkam Harris, emphasized the main objective of the event: “Our goal is to explore the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on the lives of consecrated people, while promoting the responsible and ethical use of these tools.”
The South Asia delegate for Salesian Social Communication Father Ernest Rosario stressed the importance of courage and creativity among participants. He urged them to embrace the opportunities that the digital world offers for their mission and to guide those they serve, particularly Generation Alpha, in navigating this evolving landscape.
Each participant will have the opportunity to attend all ten sessions and choose one of the six practical workshops offered each day to master essential skill sets.
In a symbolic gesture, Ruffini registered himself as the first participant on the newly launched website, followed by Natasa, the director of the Theological Pastoral Department of the Vatican Dicastery for Communications.
Salesian provincial in charge of social communications for South Asia Father Savio Silveira saod: “There is great anticipation and eagerness for this conference, as it is the first of its kind in India targeting priests, religious, and those in consecrated life. The theme is particularly relevant and highly awaited.”
For more information, please visit the website at www.illuminaire.in or contact info@illuminaire.in.
The theme the pope has chosen for the 2025 commemoration of World Communication Day is “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts,” the Vatican Dicastery for Communication announced Sept. 24.
Traditionally the pope’s message for the day is released Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists. Most dioceses will celebrate the world day June 1, the Sunday before Pentecost.
The Dicastery said that “the theme of the upcoming World Communications Day draws attention to the fact that today too often communication is violent, aimed at striking and not at establishing the conditions for dialogue.”
“It is therefore necessary to disarm communication, to cleanse it of aggression. From television talk shows to verbal wars on social networks, there is a risk that the prevailing paradigm is that of competition, opposition and the will to dominate,” the Dicastery said in a press release announcing the theme.
Basically the Vatican wants Christian Communicators to coat their words with sugar! Had this process worked in the real world, how is it the Vatican Dicastery for Communication hasn’t been able to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine even after two years of mindless pounding by Russia? Didn’t Jesus use the whip to cleanse his temple? Did he “establish the conditions for dialogue” before driving traders out of the temple with all their merchandise? (John 2: 14-17)
No communication with the laity. Pathetic.
It’s because the clergy (bishops & priests), religious, and those in consecrated life think ONLY they have the divine right to enlighten and handhold the Laity! It’s the Divide and Rule policy of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and other national Church bodies in India. The word `Communication’ here is a misnomer/misfit.