Journalism students from around the world are in Rome for the fourth annual EWTN Summer Academy. The students will work in teams to produce videos during the 10-day course. Pope Leo XIV welcomed the students to Rome. The students were also part of the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and the Jubilee of Youth.
about 1 month ago
Pope Leo XIV formally welcomed journalism students attending the fourth annual EWTN Summer Academy in Rome, acknowledging them during the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and the Jubilee of Youth 2 4. The academy, a 10-day intensive program running from July 21–31, 2025, aims to equip young Catholic communicators with religious journalism and digital storytelling skills 1 2 4. Its core mission is to train "digital missionaries" who can effectively spread the Gospel and the truth of the Catholic faith in an increasingly online world 2 4.
The 2025 EWTN Summer Academy hosts over 40 young Catholics from 23 countries, uniting them in their shared mission despite diverse backgrounds and experiences 1. Many participants come from regions where practicing their faith involves significant adversity, including war zones, secular environments, areas with cartel violence, or places facing religious persecution 1. These students are committed to using media for evangelization and to accurately portray the reality of Christian life in their home countries 1 2 4.
Several participants shared their unique challenges and aspirations. Mikhail Ajjan, 21, from Syria, now living in Sweden, focuses on spreading the Gospel in a secular environment 1. Nicolawos Hazboun, a multimedia officer from Bethlehem, seeks to highlight the presence and struggles of Palestinian Christians, whose numbers are declining due to conflict and economic hardship 1. Sister Mary Iyadunni Adeniyi, 27, from Nigeria, aims to use digital platforms for evangelization in a country where Catholics face violence 1. Tâm Nguyên Bùi, 31, from Vietnam, works with the Vietnamese bishops’ conference and hopes for improved relations between Vietnam and the Holy See 1. Marguerita Kallassy, a trilingual journalist from Lebanon, strives to correct misperceptions about the scale of Christianity in the Middle East 1. Daniela Sánchez y Sánchez from Mexico seeks to bring a message of faith to a country afflicted by drug violence, emphasizing prayer for victims and perpetrators 1.
The Summer Academy provides practical training in areas such as video editing, narrative reporting, and content production, enabling students to collaborate on stories and create digital media 1 2 4. Participants expressed a profound sense of unity and purpose, recognizing that they are "fighting for what is right" and doing "everything for the Church and ultimately for the evangelization" 2 4. Lebanese twin brothers, Charbel and Giovanni Lteif, notable for their successful social media content on Eastern Christianity, highlighted the global nature of the Church and the potential for a small group to effect significant change 2 4. Pope Leo XIV underscored that the goal is not merely content generation, but "creating an encounter of hearts" and reaching those in need of the Lord 2 4.
What is the Church's role in evangelization?
The Church's role in evangelization is central to her identity and mission, encompassing the proclamation of the Gospel, the administration of sacraments, and the witness of a Christian life . This mission is rooted in Christ's command to His Apostles to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" .
Evangelization is fundamentally about proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord . This proclamation is the "foundation, center and at the same time the summit of its dynamism," revealing the mystery of God's love and inviting individuals into a personal relationship with Christ . It is the "Good News" that offers liberation from evil, sin, and death, and bestows divine and eternal life . The Church, after two millennia, continues this mission, driven by a missionary zeal to make Jesus known, loved, and followed .
Evangelization is an all-embracing activity that involves several interconnected elements:
The mission of evangelization is not limited to the clergy but extends to all members of the Church. The lay faithful, by virtue of their Christian initiation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, have the vocation and mission to proclaim the Gospel . They are called to participate actively in the Church's life and activity, cooperating in presenting the Word of God and leading others to the Church . This universal call means that every disciple is personally called to respond to the command to preach the Gospel, with Pope Paul VI stating that "evangelization is the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize" .
In essence, the Church's role in evangelization is her very reason for existence. It is a continuous, dynamic process of proclaiming Christ, administering His sacraments, and living out the Gospel message, thereby inviting all humanity into communion with God and building up the community of faith.