Source: Sara Fornaro Citta Nuova. July 11, 2025
On July 28 and 29, the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers will occur: a chance for the Church to present Christ to the world, as stated by Monsignor Ruiz, the secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication
“This jubilee has a dual purpose. Firstly, it aims to “pamper” digital missionaries and Catholic influencers, who have long been overlooked, to embrace them and convey the message: the Church has recognized you, loves you, supports you, and stands by you. Thus, it seeks to provide them with spiritual ‘pampering.’ Secondly, the Jubilee serves to remind bishops and the entire Church: let us be aware that we possess a strong and beautiful missionary force that we must nurture.” Monsignor Lucio Adrian Ruiz discussed the significance of the forthcoming Jubilee for digital missionaries and Catholic influencers (July 28 and 29) during the monthly online meeting of the Communication and Synodality group, inspired by the international network NetOne, which comprises journalists and communicators from various publications, alongside scholars and students of communication.
At the meeting, Don Cosimo Schena, the most followed Italian priest on Instagram, Francesca Parisi, a 31-year-old teacher and digital missionary, and Michael Mattarucco, a 24-year-old worker and drummer with the band Vita Nuova, shared their experiences.
Ruiz further noted that there are numerous aspects ‘to develop, to assist, to educate, to rectify, but the most crucial element is that to achieve all this, we must be present. Therefore, this Jubilee aims to convey to the bishops and the Church: let us care for them, for they are loving and bringing Jesus; let us all journey together.‘ This Jubilee is one of the outcomes of the Synod, where the Church was called to acknowledge and support missionaries. Following an initiative by Pope Francis, a study was initiated, uniting the Dicasteries of Communication, Culture, and the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. The outcomes of which – following thousands of consultations – will soon be revealed.
In the context of a missionary Church that, as stated by Pope Francis, aims to reach everyone, Monsignor Ruiz shares that digital missionaries and Catholic influencers have requested their own Jubilee. This initiative was presented to Bergoglio and received his approval. It is scheduled for 28 and 29 July, coinciding with the Youth Jubilee, which will occur from 28 July to 3 August.
Approximately one thousand digital missionaries and Catholic influencers from various regions of the globe will gather in Rome. For Monsignor Ruiz, this will serve as an opportunity for prayer, reflection, dialogue, and the enhancement of the missionary Church’s presence in digital spaces. The objective is to accompany, acknowledge, educate, and journey alongside individuals who navigate the Internet daily.
The Jubilee will offer a chance, as Ruiz explains, to unveil a new chapter in the Church’s missionary history. It will not merely involve learning how to post on social media, but rather conceptualizing the digital mission as a novel approach to discovering individuals, identifying the suffering presence of Christ online, and conveying the message of Jesus to them in their own language, at their own pace, and within their own context, ultimately guiding them to the “physical” Church for the continuation of the mission.
With such events, Monsignor Ruiz emphasizes, the intention is to clarify that in the digital realm, “one can genuinely engage in mission, as one can genuinely love. You reach out to others, communicate in their language, and then lead them home, to the house of the Father, allowing the community to further the process of evangelization.”
Through various posts, videos, and messages, digital missionaries and Catholic influencers encounter numerous individuals who may have never considered reading a Gospel or stepping into a church. These individuals might discover an image, a word, or a phrase that resonates with them, allowing Jesus to enter their lives and hearts. A person who is completely disconnected from the Church, who does not identify as religious, may, during a pivotal moment in their life, be open to receiving Jesus, potentially leading to transformative experiences. There are countless testimonies of such occurrences.
Ruiz emphasizes that there were originally three digital missionaries, and now their number has exceeded 5,000, all of whom seek to find purpose in their mission to assist others. “This is what we need to cultivate within the Church: supporting them in fulfilling a new mission.”
