SIGNIS begins its Sixth World Congress in South Korea

By Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB

       Seoul, Korea, 19 August 2022 -- The World Catholic Association for Communications has launched an urgent call for peace through digital communication.

       The Congress commenced its study proceedings on 16th August, at the Sogang University, Seoul, Korea. The theme for the Congress is: Peace in the Digital World. 300 media specialists from five continents including a large group from the host country were present on the occasion.

       Following the message of Pope Francis to the participants of the second World Congress on Asian soil, the SIGNIS communicators play an essential role in the construction of peace through the media, through attentive listening with the ears of the heart. "More than to anyone else, the 'apostolate of listening' belongs to you as Catholic communicators. For communication is not just a profession, but a service to dialogue and understanding between individuals and larger communities in the pursuit of a serene and peaceful coexistence," said the Holy Father. This attentive listening, at the center of communication and synodality, was the main topic of the different interventions that marked the inaugural day of the SIGNIS World Congress.

       SIGNIS President, Helen Osman, noted that "when we communicate deeply, on a spiritual level, when we listen not just to the words, but to the experiences of others, our entire self - mind, body and spirit, becomes engaged in communication. The synodal process creates communion through communication."

       To add an artistic perspective to communications, young Korean artists, Honam-woodo-nongak Pan gut and Vinari show, interpreted an authentic quest to bring the word ‘peace’ to a ‘front-page dance’ using printed newspapers.

       The insightful presentations with panelists and speakers from across the globe, with some connected via digital media, evoked in the audience the need to reflect on the issues and creatively build bridges between digital communication and peace. An appeal to young audiences to use digital possibilities to sow hope in the world.

       Ecclesial, political and communications authorities of Korea, such as, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-Taic; the prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini; the President of the Organizing Committee of the SIGNIS Congress, Daniel Hang Seung-soo; and the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Korea, Kim Hyun-hwan were present for the occasion.

       Salesian Communicators: Fr Harris Pakkam, Fr Klement Vaclav, Fr Ambrose Pereira, Fr Andrew Jang, Fr Henry Woo and Fr Paul Kang were participants at the Congress. “It is days of attentive listening, dialogue, and exchanging of ideas. It is hoped that this network will build bonds of friendship and enable greeter networking with both secular and religious media”, were the comments of the participants.

       A cultural and historical tour was held on 15th August. The participants visited the Odusan Unification Observatory, celebrated mass at the Church of Repentance and Atonement, visited the Gyeongbokgung Palace and concluded the day with a trip to the Seoul N Tower.

---

---