On the path to the Jubilee of digital missionaries and Catholic influencers

By Vatican News

In less than a year, Rome will host a Jubilee event gathering digital missionaries and Catholic influencers from around the globe.

On 28 and 29 July 2025, just before the Youth Jubilee, those dedicated to evangelising through social media will convene for their own Jubilee. This will be a reunion for many who first met at World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023.

During that event, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, addressed the young influencers in his homily and told them that "today, the Church needs you, dear digital influencers, to bring hope into these new social spaces that are social media and social networks."

Part of the Church’s missionary life

Pope Francis has encouraged digital missionaries to see themselves as a community, "part of the Church’s missionary life, which has never feared to venture into new horizons and frontiers. With creativity and courage," he said, "proclaim God's Mercy."

This Jubilee aims to foster a sense of community and communion among digital missionaries. It will be a chance for this missionary community, united by a common mission, to gather and pass through the Holy Door during the Jubilee year. 

The first meeting of Digital Missionaries

On July 13, Aparecida will host the first National Meeting of Digital Missionaries in Brazil.

This event is promoted by the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications (Cepac) of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB), in collaboration with the Episcopal Commission for Youth, Santa Carona, Igrejeiros, Soul Shine Branding, Pascom Brasil, and Jovens Conectados.

The meeting, themed "Cast the Nets" inspired by the Gospel of Luke, will run from 9 am to 6 pm.

Embracing synodality in the digital realm

Bishop Amilton Manoel da Silva of Guarapuava, a member of the Cepac CNBB, has highlighted the importance of journeying together, saying "we are living a special moment in the Church, with Pope Francis urging us to live synodality. This requires each of us to unite and seek unity in Christ Jesus, fostering communion among ourselves."

He notes that today's digital landscape provides a unique opportunity for spreading God's word and building the Kingdom, urging people to move beyond complacency and apathy and rediscover the wonder of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.

Catholic influencers and conversation in the Spirit

The meeting will feature Monsignor Lucio Adrian Ruiz, Secretary of the Holy See's Dicastery for Communication, along with other Cepac bishops and the Youth Commission. They will engage in discussions to strengthen the commitment to digital evangelisation.

The CNBB’s Commission for Social Communications has invited a small number of digital missionaries to this first meeting but plans to expand future gatherings to increase participation and mission efforts in the digital space.

The event will include dialogue, listening, participation, and round tables using the Conversation in the Spirit methodology, which emphasises discernment and synodality.

There will also be moments of spirituality, prayer, and Eucharistic celebration, providing an opportunity to deepen faith and communion among participants.