UGANDA: Vatican Official Urges Catholic Communicators to Enhance Environmental Awareness, Promote Collaboration
Dr. Paolo Ruffini Credit: Courtesy photo
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At an ongoing seminar in Kampala, Uganda for journalists, communicators, and other professionals, the Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication has emphasized the need to increase awareness of environmental care and encouraged improved unity among communicators.
The five-day seminar dabbed as refresher program is under the theme “Contribution of Journalists and Media Practitioners for an Integral Ecology According to Pope Francis’ Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’,” with the aim to strengthen the capacities of media professionals and propose effective approaches to solving environmental problems which are integral to the sustainable development of the African continent.
“If communicators and journalists could help to raise more awareness in this delicate matter, it would be a strong and appreciable contribution because “the universe as a whole, in all its manifold relationships, shows forth the inexhaustible richness of God,” Dr. Paolo Ruffini shared with participants gathered at Ulrika Guest House, in his message of greetings.
He added that to be wise, “we need to grasp the variety of things in their multiple relationships”. Along this path of wisdom, it is not a matter of indifference to us that so many species are disappearing and that the climate crisis endangers the life of many other beings.”
In his message dated Monday, November 6, the Chief Communication Officer expressed his confidence that the seminar will be an opportunity for communicators to enhance environmental awareness in society.
“I am confident that you will catch this seminar’s opportunity to take resolutions and a strong commitment to raising more consciousness that “as part of the universe… all of us are linked by unseen bonds and together form a kind of universal family, a sublime communion which fills us with a sacred, affectionate and humble respect.”
Dr. Ruffini appreciated the organizers of the seminar; the African Catholic Union of the Press (UCAP), the UCAP- Uganda in collaboration with the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) who aims to emphasize the significant role of communication in raising awareness of the epochal challenge the society faces and each person’s role in overcoming the challenges together.
Stressing the importance of promoting collaboration among communicators, the Prefect for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication said in reference to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum, “Only in together, we can find adequate responses to the crisis we are facing, “while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.”
He continued, “Only together, we can face the impact of climate change that is increasingly hitting the lives of so many persons. “We will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, and forced migrations,” and “Only together, we can fight also against the fake news that is polluting communication all over the world.”
Weaving his message of collaboration with the current concern of the Church on synodality, the first laity to head the Dicastery of Communication narrated, “In the context of the Synodal Process Pope Francis is appealing to all faithful and above for journeying in communion and commitment. Hence, with “responsibility for God’s earth”, which means that human beings must “respect the laws of nature and the delicate equilibria existing between the creatures of this world”.
The Prefect who has been at the helm of the Dicastery of Communications in the Vatican since 2018, appreciated the refresher program emphasizing that “Events like this are important to weave the communion that unites us and rediscover how important communication is in building a network of good.”
He continued in the message addressed to the president of UCAP and to all participants, “Thanks for informing about your activities in order to enhance the capacity of media professionals to address environmental issues and propose truthful, effective, and integral approaches to the sustainable development of the African continent in line with Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.”
Dr. Ruffini asked all participants to accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world and to help make it more beautiful “because that commitment has to do with our personal dignity and highest values.”
He wished the five-day seminar may bear fruits, weave communicators and journalists’ communion, and increase more determination to push for major political decisions on the local, national, and international levels for the most effective possible solutions.
