Peace in the Digital World was the theme chosen for the 2022 Congress of Signis, the World Catholic Association for Communication. This year, its World Congress was held in Seoul, Korea from 15-18 August. It was a hybrid event characterized by in-presence gatherings and online encounters.
Keynote speakers included 14 experts from Korea and abroad, who delved more deeply into the various facets of this very timely and rich topic. Among them were Dr. Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communications, and Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, professor of theological and social ethics. The program also featured two special events: the “World Journalist Forum” and the “International Youth Forum.” In-person meetings and live You Tube transmissions were held simultaneously on the Metaverse platform.
Last June, Pope Francis sent his warm greetings and best wishes to all the participants preparing for the Congress. In his letter, he underscored that “the digital media revolution of recent decades has proved to be a powerful means of fostering communion and dialogue within our human family…. At the same time, the use of digital media, especially social media, has raised a number of serious ethical issues that call for wise and discerning judgment on the part of communicators and all those concerned with the authenticity and quality of human relationships…. I would also encourage you to consider the many communities in our world that remain excluded from the digital space, and, consequently, I ask you to make digital inclusion a priority of your organizational planning. In doing so, you will be making a significant contribution to the spread of a culture of peace grounded in the truth of the Gospel.”
The approximately 300 participants in the Congress included some Daughters of St. Paul, members of the Signis delegations from Asia and America. In addition, the FSPs of Korea were among the sponsors of the initiative.
