Rome: Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Pauline Communication and Culture Award. Presented at a distinguished conference hosted by LUMSA University in Rome, the honor recognizes Ruffini’s enduring commitment to communication shaped by Gospel values and ethical integrity.
The event—anchored in the late Pope Francis’ message for the 59th World Communications Day—was titled “Pope Francis: ‘Share with meekness the hope that is in your hearts.’” It sought to bridge papal teachings on media with the evolving landscape of journalism, especially within the digital sphere.
Organized by the Lazio chapter of the Journalists’ Association, UCSI, and the WebCatholics of Italy (WeCa), the conference drew communicators, clergy, and academics into a deep reflection on the intersection of ethics, faith, and media.
Sister Paola Fosson, President of the Pauline Communication and Culture Association (Odv), presented the award to Dr. Ruffini, praising his “inclusive, dialogical approach” and steadfast commitment to the Gospel's message of truth, dialogue, and peace.
Ruffini's leadership style, grounded in open exchange and Gospel fidelity, was celebrated as a model for journalists navigating an era of misinformation and media polarization.
At the heart of the gathering was Pope Francis’ urgent call to “disarm communication.” Echoed by Pope Leo XIV during his recent audience with media delegates, the call underscored the vital need for words that heal rather than harm: “Let us disarm our words, and we will help disarm the Earth.”
Speakers highlighted the necessity of gentleness in communication—starting with language and extending to intent and accuracy. Fr. Paolo Padrini of WeCa emphasized that kindness must be coupled with rigorous fact-checking and a sincere devotion to truth.
Fr. Stefano Cascio of the Diocese of Rome described journalism not merely as a tool for information but as a cultural and spiritual endeavor—a means to build spaces where authentic human connection can flourish.
Sister Rose Pacatte of the Daughters of St. Paul reinforced this call, framing journalism as a vocation of hope, capable of transforming societies when rooted in ethical clarity and spiritual purpose.
Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Dicastery for Communication, addressed the dark tide of disinformation flooding digital platforms. Citing manipulated content and algorithm-driven distortion, he stressed journalists' responsibility to prioritize truth over trends and community over clicks.
Tornielli warned of what Pope Francis called the “programmed dispersion of attention,” a system that distorts reality to serve profit rather than people.
Carlo Bartoli, Guido D’Ubaldo, and Roberta Feliziani—leaders within the Italian Journalists’ Association—stressed that professional ethics must evolve as a lived commitment, not just a set of static rules. In their view, ethical journalism embodies prudence, empathy, and clarity, rejecting sensationalism in favor of substance.
The event concluded with reflections from Sergio Talamo of Formez and Paolo Valente of Caritas Italy, who echoed the conference’s core message: in an age of digital fragmentation, communication must return to its sacred roots—where truth is told gently, and dialogue heals division.