…As ComWEEK Kicks Off Sunday
On 24 September 2024, the late Pope Francis chose the theme for World Communications Day, 2025, that called on people to ”Share with gentleness, the hope that is in your hearts”, communication that creates the condition for dialogue. Here in Nigeria, the week leading up to the World Communications Day, known as ComWEEK, begins this Sunday, 25 May 2025, writes Fr Robert Anagboso.
It will be recalled that on 24 September 2024, the Holy See Press Office released the theme Pope Francis had chosen for the Church’s 59th World Communications Day in 2025, ”Share with gentleness, the hope that is in your hearts” (cf. 1Pt 3:15-16).
The introductory text which accompanied the theme noted that ‘The topic aims to bring attention to the fact that in today’s world, “too often, communication is violent, aimed at striking and not at establishing the conditions for dialogue”.’ It was an invitation to all “to disarm communication, to cleanse it of aggression”.
The late Holy Father lamented the current trend of communication style which promoted “competition, opposition, and domination as can be seen in television talk shows to verbal wars on social media”. In the alternative, the text called on all Christians to instead, communicate Hope because “hope is a person, and He is Christ… when we speak of Christian hope, we cannot disregard a community that lives the message of Jesus in such a credible way as to give a glimpse of the Hope that it brings, and is capable of communicating the hope of Christ with deeds and words even today”.
World Communications Day is usually celebrated on the Sunday before Pentecost. Pope Paul VI established the Day in 1967 in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, as an annual celebration that encouraged reflecting on the opportunities and challenges that the media offered and how the Church could better communicate the Gospel message.
The week long programme is filled with rich topics which call for an active participation from Christians in various parishes, institutions and organizations. Each day has an aspect of the general theme of the Communications day.
On Sunday 25 May 2025, the message of the late Pope Francis for the 59th World Communications Day is expected to be read and reflected upon in all Masses and at Sunday evening catechetical instructions. As it is the tradition, a special collection is made in all Masses in support of Church Communications, both at the universal and local levels.
Outline for an 8-day Communications Week (ComWeek) Programme:
Day 1: Sunday, May 25, 2025 – Topic: “Gentle correction: Addressing online misinformation and error in a way that is constructive and respectful”.
Day 2: Monday, May 26, 2025 – Topic: “The Gentle witness, sharing our faith and hope online”.
Day 3: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 – Topic: “Creating a safe online space: Fostering a culture of respect, empathy and kindness in our digital interactions”.
Day 4: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 – Topic: “Media with Gentleness: a path to being narrators of hope in a distressed nation”.
Day 5: Thursday, May 29, 2025 – Topic: “Digital Discipleship: using social media to share the gospel message and invite others to follow Christ”.
Day 6: Friday, May 30, 2025 – Topic: “Gentleness in conflict resolution: a Media perspective”.
Day 7: Saturday, May 31, 2025 – Topic: “Media and Mercy: using digital media to promote forgiveness, reconciliation and healing, online and offline”.
Day 8: Sunday, June 1, 2025 – Topic: “Share with Gentleness the Hope that is in your heart, 1Peter 3:15-16”.
