Sylvia Ngige Where women’s power meets real life
Report: By Stella Obi
Edited with analysis: By Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige
[Kigali, August 7, 2026]
The serene city of Kigali, Rwanda is hosting Catholic media practitioners from across the seven continents for the 2026 SIGNIS World Congress on Digital Communication..
The congress, the flagship global gathering of the World Catholic Association for Communication, is holding in Africa for the first time.
Running from August 3 to August 8, 2026, at the Sainte Famille Hotel, the week-long event is themed: “Digital Communication for Cultural Harmony and Environmental Wellbeing.”
The congress has brought together Church leaders, journalists, broadcasters, academics, and digital communicators to examine the role of digital media in promoting peace, intercultural dialogue, ethical communication, and environmental responsibility.
In his remarks, the Catholic Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, said communication becomes a ministry of healing when rooted in truth and charity. He called for stronger collaboration among Catholic media organizations across the world.
In his message, Pope Leo XIV urged media practitioners to use digital platforms to promote the common good, uphold human dignity, foster truth, and encourage environmental stewardship.
Also speaking, the President of SIGNIS World, Helen Osman, called for a stronger global network of communicators committed to transforming cultures in the light of the Gospel, while promoting human dignity, justice, and reconciliation.
The President of SIGNIS Africa, Fr. Walter Ihejerika, encouraged participants to work together in building credible media platforms that serve both the Church and society.
During a plenary session, the Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, stressed that Catholic communicators must be “disciples before influencers.” He urged them to use their platforms to give voice to the voiceless.
Beyond plenary sessions, breakout panels, and liturgical celebrations, participants also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The visit offered moments of reflection on Rwanda’s history as delegates also explored the city and deliberated on the future of Catholic communication in the digital age.
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Sylvia’s Take
Holding the SIGNIS World Congress in Africa for the first time is significant. It puts African voices at the center of global conversations on faith, media, and culture.
In this digital age, communication is no longer just about broadcasting. It is about healing, truth, and responsibility. Cardinal Kambanda and Pope Leo XIV are right: our platforms must build bridges, not walls.
For Catholic communicators in Nigeria and across Africa, the challenge is clear. We must tell our stories with dignity, promote peace in divided communities, and use digital tools to defend the environment and the poor.
If we get this right, the Church’s voice will not just be heard online. It will be felt in homes, schools, and communities.
Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige Founder https://.www.sylviangige.com | Where women’s power meets real life
