Prague: Against the backdrop of a troubled world, Catholic media professionals from across Europe gathered in Prague from June 3–5 for the 35th Annual Meeting of Spokespersons and Press Officers of the European Bishops’ Conferences. This year's theme, “Communicating Hope in Today’s Europe,” aimed to reaffirm the Church's commitment to spreading messages of peace, unity, and unwavering faith amidst crises of war, division, and uncertainty.

The event, organized by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) in cooperation with the Czech Bishops’ Conference, marks a return to Prague two years after the city's pivotal role in hosting the European Continental Assembly of the Synod. In the context of the Jubilee Year of Hope, participants emphasized their shared responsibility to become credible bearers of the Gospel’s promise: a hope that endures and does not disappoint.

As Europe continues to grapple with the impact of armed conflict and deepening social fractures, Church communicators reflected on the unique responsibility of delivering messages grounded in the Gospel's compassion and clarity. In a statement, organizers said, “Now more than ever, Europe must reclaim the voice of the Good News — a voice urgently needed in a world marred by violence and despair.”

Drawing inspiration from Psalm 19:4 — “Their voice goes out through all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” — the gathering underscored the Church’s global mission to remain a beacon of truth and hope.

A highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Dr. Alessandro Gisotti, Vice Editorial Director of Vatican Media, who analyzed the communication styles of Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost). He identified strong continuities between the two popes — notably their emphasis on listening, evangelization through accessible language, and a deeply synodal approach to both Church governance and public communication.

Gisotti particularly emphasized the influence of St. Augustine’s spiritual philosophy on Pope Leo’s approach, suggesting that humility and clarity — rather than rhetoric or spectacle — would define the new pontiff’s public voice.

He also pointed out a historic first: Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff with prior personal experience using social media, long before his election. His familiarity with digital tools and his vocal support for ethical use of artificial intelligence suggest a pontificate well-suited to navigate the Church’s mission in the digital age. “Even in the digital continent,” Gisotti said, “Pope Leo will serve as a bridge-builder, committed to fostering dialogue and unity in an increasingly divided world.”

Another major contribution came from Professor Daniel Arasa, Dean of the Faculty of Institutional Social Communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. His keynote, titled “The Service of Ecclesial Communicators in the Current Context,” framed communication not merely as the transmission of facts, but as a pastoral mission. “To communicate,” Arasa asserted, “is to form hearts in hope and truth. Our task is to help the world see through the lens of Christ.”

The final day featured a panel discussion with seasoned journalists Javier Martínez Brocal Ogáyar (ABC, Spain) and Josef Pazderka (Český rozhlas Plus, Czech Republic), who discussed the evolving dynamics between Vatican communicators and secular media.

Their discussion acknowledged the increasing complexities of covering the Church in an age of fast-paced news cycles and digital misinformation. Yet both stressed the importance of cultivating mutual trust, transparency, and journalistic integrity in telling the Church’s story to the world.

Beyond panels and speeches, the conference included moments of spiritual reflection. Participants joined Archbishop Josef Nuzík, President of the Czech Bishops’ Conference, for a solemn Mass in the Chapel of St. Wenceslas at Prague Cathedral. This sacred gathering reminded all in attendance that the heart of Church communication is not strategy or spin — but faith, humility, and love.

The Prague meeting served not only as a forum for professional development but also as a symbol of unity among Catholic communicators across the continent. In a time when despair often dominates headlines, these men and women continue to carry the torch of hope — a hope born not of circumstances, but of Christ.

As Europe and the wider world face social fragmentation and spiritual fatigue, the Church’s communicators emerged from Prague renewed in their vocation: to proclaim the Gospel with clarity, humility, and joy — and to remind humanity that light still shines in the darkness.