SIGNIS World Congress begins in Rwanda with focus on digital communication

by Catholic Trends

August 4, 2026

in Africa, News

Reading Time: 2 mins read

VIEWS

Share on Facebook Share on WhatsApp Share on X Share on Telegram

No Content Available

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.

Watch the live event below

Saints inspire us, but so do living witnesses like Bishop Adanuty – Bishop Mante

No Content Available

Catholic Sister Communicators equipped with media skills and tools to strengthen evangelisation in Ghana

Insight with Bishop Osei-Bonsu : One Mass a day? Why some priests celebrate more

Discussion about this post

Daily Reading

Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh week in Ordinary Time

Letter to the Galatians 1,13-24.

Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former... way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,
and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.
But when (God), who from my mother's womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased
to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,
nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Kephas and remained with him for fifteen days.
But I did not see any other of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord.
(As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.)
Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ;
they only kept hearing that "the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
So they glorified God because of me.

Psalms 139(138),1-3.13-14ab.14c-15.

O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you... know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.

Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.

My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
when I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10,38-42.

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose... name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
To receive the Gospel every morning in your mailbox, subscribe here: dailygospel.org

Go to Daily Readings

SIGNIS World Congress begins in Rwanda with focus on digital communication

Saints inspire us, but so do living witnesses like Bishop Adanuty – Bishop Mante

Catholic Sister Communicators equipped with media skills and tools to strengthen evangelisation in Ghana

Related Posts

Catholic Sister Communicators equipped with media skills and tools to strengthen evangelisation in Ghana