Three Vatican officials held an online prayer vigil at St. Peter’s tomb, encouraging thousands of Catholic digital missionaries to serve the Church at the synod.
vatican city
Digital missionaries participated in a seminar at St. Peter’s Crucible online, virtually, and in person on Sunday afternoon.
The event was held at the Clementine Church beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in celebration of World Mission Sunday with the theme: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Dr. Pavlo Ruffini, official of the Media Committee of the Holy See, and Venerable Lucho Ruis, Secretary, participated in the seminar, along with Bishop Luis Marín of San Martín, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops.
Together in the Digital Apostolate
At the seminar, Venerable Lucho, secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Media, praised the work of the Digital Synod and the progress it has made in listening. “The Church listens to you,” he said. Our projects will continue in this apostolate that always promotes unity. He emphasized that “a growing church is a community of disciples committed to reconciliation, healing, and the proclamation of the gospel.”
Lucho announced the upcoming Jubilee Year of Catholic Digital Evangelists, which will be celebrated on July 28 and 29, 20225, just before the Youth Jubilee. He said, “Let us dream together and do beautiful things that express the joy of God in a world that seeks hope.”
Jesus a living man
Bishop Marín of San Martín reminded the digital missionaries that Jesus is not a simple incarnation or digital personality but a “living person.” He called on everyone to embrace the theme of World Apostolic Sunday: “Go and invite everyone to the Wedding Supper,” challenging them to step out of their comfort zone to spread the testimony of Christian joy. “Our apostolate is not to create factions or parties but to unite with “the dust of the road and the mud of history.”
Testimony from Digital Influencers
During the event, many young influencers shared their prayers in different languages. Two Lebanese twins told young participants how the work of digital missionaries has impacted their lives, saying they are now committed to sharing “the beauty of Christianity” online in the Middle East.
Participants were invited to write words that characterize their apostolic work, including brotherhood, listening, joy, pain, pleasure, thirst, and need for God.
Humility, essential in the apostolate
Later in the program, Dr. Ruffini invited Catholic missionaries serving on digital platforms to be inspired by the life of Saint Paul. He urged everyone to take responsibility for the wounds that afflict modern society and contribute to healing them.
He said: “Lord, help us to be salt and leaven of our times, in whom we find the spirit of humility.” The prefect said that the apostle, living among the people, truly became “everything to everyone,” “the opposite of an official, a bureaucrat or an intelligent planner.” Dr. Ruffini said that Saint Paul served the Lord with humility and tears. He called on young missionaries to follow the path of apostolate without personal interests, without seeking power and always choosing “companionship without discrimination.”
