Help Youth Make Fruitful Use of New Media

The General Congress and Delegates' Assembly of SIGNIS – Africa, an African Catholic Association for Communication, opened officially on Wednesday 4th Sept in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In a welcome address to the Congress, His Eminence,  Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphieri, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia, commended the vision of SIGNIS-Africa in choosing to focus on, and address the proper use of new media technology among Africa's youth during the congress.
 

He echoed Pope Francis' concern about how youth immersion in the virtual world has brought about 'digital migration', withdrawal from their families as well as alienation from their cultural and religious values.

Cardinal Berhaneyesus therefore urged the Congress to not only identify the challenges that African youth face with digital media and communication, but also come up with practical ways and means by which the youth can make fruitful use of new media technologies.

The Cardinal also reminded Catholic communication practitioners and professionals that they should be in the front line of the mission to redeem Africa. "God is calling you to use your profession to spread the good news to the youth of Africa and help the church to be the voice for truth, peace and justice," he exhorted.

He concluded his address by citing the Pope's advice to young people during the 33rd World Youth Day: "Do not allow the spark of youth to be extinguished in the darkness of a closed room in which the only window to the outside world is a computer and smartphone. Open wide the doors of your life. May your time and space be filled with meaningful relationships and real people with whom to share your authentic and concrete experiences of life."

Other dignitaries who addressed the congress at the opening ceremony included His Excellency, Bishop Lisane Chiristos,  Episcopal Chair of Social Communication of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia; Dr Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication at the Vatican (represented by Monsignor Javier Yameoogo); Most Reverend Emmanuel Badejo, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of  Oyo in Nigeria, and President of Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communication (CEPACS); and Mrs Helen Osman,  President of SIGNIS world - wide.

In his welcome remarks, Reverend Professor Walter Ihejirika, President of SIGNIS-Africa, affirmed that the Congress aims to create practical pathways for promoting the welfare of children and youth in the ever - changing digital world.

He also stressed that building up SIGNIS as a strong Catholic Communication Association that is able to harness the physical and mental creativity of members for spiritual and social development is a cardinal project for the Association.

He noted that the strong presence of the hierarchy of the African Church at the Congress is an eloquent testimony of the premium which the church places on communication.

About 14 papers exploring various aspects of the theme, "The African Youth in the Digital World: Promoting Creativity for Integral Development" will be presented and discussed before the Congress wraps up on Saturday 6th September.