On May 7, the Communications Office of the Congregation of the Mission organized an international online event on Digital Mission, involving around 150 participants from all over the world. The conference highlighted the importance of evangelizing in the new digital spaces, where millions of people live, search for meaning, face suffering, and nurture hope.
Fr. Salvatore Farì, CM, invited participants to move beyond simply being present online: “It is not enough to be present online: we must be authentic and meaningful, living witnesses of the Gospel and not merely communicators.” His reflection emphasized how digital mission requires creativity, pastoral sensitivity, and missionary passion, because every digital contact can become a real encounter with the word of God.
Msgr. Lucio Ruiz, Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication of the Vatican, stressed that digital mission is not an option, but an essential dimension of the Church. He explained: “To evangelize today means to embody the Gospel in new languages and spaces, with authenticity and closeness, reaching those who are far away and those searching for meaning and hope.” He also recalled the importance of training and accompanying digital missionaries so that they may communicate the Gospel effectively and with an open heart.
During the meeting, Msgr. Ruiz further explained how digital culture represents a missionary opportunity: “It is not only about transferring content online, but about inhabiting the digital culture, listening to people, understanding their needs, and responding with the light and hope of the Gospel.” The conference offered practical tools to integrate online presence with the mission of the Church without losing authenticity and depth.
The event represented a unique moment of reflection and sharing, demonstrating how the Church, united and present in the digital peripheries, can create global networks of communion and bring the message of Jesus to the most remote corners of contemporary life.
