Ahead of First-Ever SIGNIS World Congress in Africa, Board Approves Theme, Subthemes for 2026 Rwanda Event

Referring to Aetatis Novae, the February 1992 pastoral instruction on social communications of the 20th Anniversary of “Communio et Progressio” on the means of social communication written by order of Vatican II that was published in May 1971, SIGNIS Africa leadership explain the context of the approved theme.

“More than thirty years after the publication of Aetatis Novae, we have entered into a new and more advanced era of communication. The expansion of digital communication has brought the world to the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), that is, the simulation of human intelligence in machines,” SIGNIS Africa officials say.

They recall the late Pope Francis’ note about the ambiguity of AI during his 14 June 2024 address at the G7 session, where he said, “On the one hand, it (AI) generates excitement for the possibilities it offers, while on the other it gives rise to fear for the consequences it foreshadows.”

Digitality, SIGNIS Africa officials say, “has implications for the spiritual and social dimensions of human life as well as the wellbeing of the environment.”

In their July 15 two-page statement, the officials say that the Congress in Rwanda will have “three plenary sessions with different speakers from ecclesial and civil authorities, members of the academia, communication and telecommunication industry experts as well as environmental activists and experts.”

Organized every four years, SIGNIS World Congress “provides a platform for participants to engage in substantive discussions, exchange ideas, and contemplate the future trajectory of media and communication,” according to a SIGNIS report. 

The report indicates that the decision to have Rwanda as the host of the 2026 Congress “was made during the SIGNIS Board of Directors meeting Bangkok, Thailand” as part of the commitment of SIGNIS “to fostering international collaboration among its members, associates, and affiliates.”

“Emerging from its history, the East African nation is now dedicated to preserving its lush landscapes and invaluable wildlife,” the SIGNIS report reads in part, and continues, “Rwanda is positioning itself as a smart hub in Central Africa, eagerly awaiting visitors from across the globe seeking to explore its natural beauty, cultural heritage, traditions, and societal dynamics.”

The last SIGNIS World Congress took place in the capital city of the Asian nation of South Korea, Seoul, in 2022. Canada’s city of Quebec played host to the 2017 SIGNIS World Congress, after the one of 2014 in the European city of Rome in Italy. 

In the July 15 statement, SIGNIS Africa officials unveil seven subthemes that they say the World Board of SIGNIS approved to guide the Congress sessions.

Synodality – “A model for peaceful co-existence and social development”

According to SIGNIS Africa officials, this subtheme is for participants in the Congress to relive the discussions and recommendations of the Synod on Synodality, the multi-year initiative that the late Pope Francis officially inaugurated in 2021 and later extended to 2024 realized under the theme, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission”.

The panel will facilitate deliberations on how “the synodal path can bring about cultural harmony and integral social development.”

Environmental Communication and the Care for Creation

Lifted from the Late Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter on care for our common home, Laudato Si’, and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SIGNIS Africa officials say that this subtheme acknowledges with appreciation that “environmental concerns are central to any discussions on human development.” 

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They add that the panel handling the subtheme on ecological stewardship “will examine the role of communication in the promotion of environmental well-being.”

Communication for Equity, Gender Equality and Empowerment

According to SIGNIS Africa officials, the panel handling this subtheme “will examine how digital technologies can assist in elevating the voices of women in contemporary societies.”

Protecting Children and Youth in the Digital Space

Acknowledging that children and young people can often become victims of the media production and usage, SIGNIS Africa officials say that “the panel will explore some of these dangers and provide pathways for effective child protection in the digital spaces.”

AI in the contemporary media environment

“This panel will focus on the usage of Artificial intelligence in traditional and new media,” SIGNIS Africa officials say.

The panel is also to “examine especially the negative outcomes including misinformation/disinformation, fake news and deepfakes.”

Digital Media Literacy

According to SIGNIS officials, “Media literacy has been recognized as one of the efficient means for ensuring effective use of the media.”

For them, “equipping media users with the skills of media literacy is very urgent in the digital world.”

Digital Discipleship – “Connected in Faith: Digital Communication for communion and harmony.”

“The panel will examine how to build communion in (digital) environments, highlighting how to build connections and communion with and among the youth, among women, but also build communion with all the faithful,” SIGNIS Africa officials say.

In their statement, the SIGNIS officials say that the seven approved subthemes are designed to guide the reflections and discussions during the working days of the 2026 Congress.

“These parallel sessions will take place in break-out rooms, and participants will be able to choose which of the sessions to participate in,” they say.

SIGNIS Africa officials add that during the Congress, each of the sessions will have “about three speakers.”