SIGNIS World Congress begins in Rwanda with focus on digital communication

by Catholic Trends

August 4, 2026

in Africa, News

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The first-ever SIGNIS World Congress to be held on African soil officially opened on Tuesday, August 4, in Rwanda’s Catholic Archdiocese of Kigali, bringing together Catholic communicators from more than 40 countries across five continents.

The six-day Congress is being held under the theme, “Digital Communication for Cultural Harmony and Environmental Well-Being,” and is expected to host more than 300 participants from around the world.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, the Congress Secretariat announced that 104 delegates had already completed accreditation.

“We are pleased to inform you that 104 participants have already received their badges,” the Secretariat said in a statement issued on Monday, August 3.

The opening session featured welcome addresses from the Archbishop of Kigali and President of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda (CEPR), Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, SIGNIS World President Helen Osman, and SIGNIS Africa President Fr. Prof. Walter Chekwendu Ihejirika.

The Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Dr. Paolo Ruffini, was scheduled to deliver a goodwill message virtually. Other speakers included the Apostolic Nuncio to Rwanda, Archbishop Arnaldo Sánchez Catalán, as well as representatives of partner organisations.

Following the opening ceremony, delegates were expected to begin the first plenary session centred on the Congress theme. The session features presentations by the Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, and the Theological-Pastoral Director at the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Dr. Nataša Govekar.

Running from August 3 to 8, the Congress will examine key issues shaping the future of Catholic communication, including digital communication for communion, religious and cultural engagement in the digital age, artificial intelligence in media, media literacy, youth participation, environmental communication, and the role of Catholic communicators in fostering reconciliation and cultural harmony.

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Daily Reading

Tuesday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time

Book of Jeremiah 30,1-2.12-15.18-22.

The following message came to Jeremiah from... the LORD:
Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.
For thus says the LORD: Incurable is your wound, grievous your bruise;
There is none to plead your cause, no remedy for your running sore, no healing for you.
All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not seek you. I struck you as an enemy would strike, punished you cruelly;
Why cry out over your wound? your pain is without relief. Because of your great guilt, your numerous sins, I have done this to you.
Thus says the LORD: See! I will restore the tents of Jacob, his dwellings I will pity; City shall be rebuilt upon hill, and palace restored as it was.
From them will resound songs of praise, the laughter of happy men. I will make them not few, but many; they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.
His sons shall be as of old, his assembly before me shall stand firm; I will punish all his oppressors.
His leader shall be one of his own, and his rulers shall come from his kin. When I summon him, he shall approach me; how else should one take the deadly risk of approaching me? says the LORD.
You shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Psalms 102(101),16-18.19-21.29.22-23.

The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and... all the kings of the earth your glory,
when the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
when he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.

Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
to hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."

The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence,
that the name of the LORD may be declared on Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
when the peoples gather together
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 15,1-2.10-14.

Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from... Jerusalem and said,
Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash (their) hands when they eat a meal.
He summoned the crowd and said to them, "Hear and understand.
It is not what enters one's mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one."
Then his disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?"
He said in reply, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
Let them alone; they are blind guides (of the blind). If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit."

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SIGNIS World Congress begins in Rwanda with focus on digital communication

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