Catholic Social Communication as Witnessing to the Light in a Wounded World
Catholic Social Communication as Witnessing to the Light in a Wounded World
SVD Mission in Contexts: Creative Responses in a Wounded World
Anthony Le Duc, SVD
Pope Leo XIV, in the homily at his installation Mass on May 18, 2025, observed, “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest.”[1]
The words of the Church’s newly elected leader reminded me of the theme of the 19th General Chapter of the Society of the Divine Word: Your Light Must Shine Before Others: Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World,” which took place in Nemi, Italy from June 16 to July 14, 2024. Soon after its Chapter, the missionary congregation also inaugurated the Jubilee Year on September 8, 2024 celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding with the theme: “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone.”
As a member of the Society of the Divine Word, these two events hold special significance for me. Therefore, in this essay, I will draw inspiration from these two themes to reflect on the purpose and nature of Catholic social communication in today’s world. The essay will consist of three parts: (1) Setting the scene—the wounds of today’s world; (2) Defining the nature and purpose of Catholic social communication; and (3) Proposing the key elements of Catholic social communication in a wounded world.
[1] Pope Leo XIV, “Homily, Installation Mass,” May 18, 2025, https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250518-inizio-pontificato.html.
