In a historic first-ever Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presided over a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and offered a powerful challenge to more than 1,700 creators from over 70 countries: “Brothers and sisters, be discerning.” He warned against the spiritual risks of misinformation, manipulation, and monetizing their platforms, urging them to remember their sacred calling as missionaries, not mere influencers, according to National Catholic Reporter.
At the heart of his homily, Cardinal Tagle reflected: “Everyone is an influencer, and at the same time, everyone is influenced.” He urged faithful engagement and warned against “false advertising, coercion or brainwashing,” even sharing that he had once been targeted by a fake video promoting arthritis medicine, according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV: Building Bridges, Not Echo Chambers
Following the Mass, Pope Leo XIV addressed the digital missionaries in St. Peter’s Basilica. He reminded them that “it is not simply a matter of generating content, but of creating an encounter between hearts,” according to National Catholic Reporter.
He encouraged them to be “agents of communion, capable of breaking down the logic of division and polarization, of individualism and egocentrism,” emphasizing that their mission is to preserve the human dimension of digital engagement, according to El País.
Fostering Authentic Witness Over Personal Branding
In a formation session at Rome’s Auditorium Conciliazione, Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro told the participants: “You are not a brand, you are a blessing,” according to OSV News.
Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, added: “What truly binds us is not the web, but something that transcends us: God Himself.” He reminded creators that the Church has always been a “network of people, not of algorithms,” and called them to resist self-promotion and root their online mission in humility and prayer, according to Vatican News.
A Jubilee of Mission, Communion, and Hope
The two-day event was part of the broader Jubilee of Youth (July 28–August 3) and brought Catholic content creators together for spiritual formation, worship, and collaboration, according to Vatican News.
Participants walked through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s, consecrated their mission to Mary—“God’s first influencer”—and experienced face-to-face fellowship that many described as profoundly moving. Some attendees were overheard saying things like, “I’ve been learning from you… Can I hug you?” during in-person meetings, according to USCCB.
As Cardinal Tagle said: “You are not only influencers, you are also missionaries.” This Vatican Jubilee reminded Catholic creators that their task is not to chase clicks but to foster encounters with Christ, reject the temptations of vanity, and be true witnesses of the Gospel in the digital world.
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