On the second and final day of the Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, Pope Leo XIV called on more than 1,000 young evangelizers gathered in Rome to “go and mend the nets, not for catching fish, but for weaving relationships rooted in love, truth, and solidarity.”
The day began with a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, a powerful gesture of faith and renewal that set the tone for what followed: a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
In his homily, Cardinal Tagle invited participants to reflect on what it truly means to be an influencer in a world saturated by digital noise.
“Everyone is an influencer,” he noted, “but the question is, what spirit drives our influence?” Drawing attention to the subtle and often invisible forces shaping modern communication, he urged the missionaries to allow themselves to be influenced first by the love of Christ. “Let the love of Jesus be your algorithm,” he said, encouraging them to become instruments of grace, healing, and authenticity in the digital sphere.
Before the conclusion of the Mass, the young missionaries received a heartfelt message from Pope Leo XIV, delivered in Spanish, English, and Italian. In a time marked by division and conflict, the Pope reiterated the Church’s call to be bearers of peace, both online and offline. “You are here to renew your commitment to nourish Christian hope in online spaces,” he said. “Go and mend the nets, not for catching fish, but for weaving relationships rooted in love, truth, and solidarity.”
Pope Leo urged the missionaries to recognize the suffering Christ in every person they encounter online and to ensure that digital culture remains human, never stripped of dignity. He reminded them that technological advancement must never come at the cost of compassion and connection. “It is not simply a matter of generating content,” he said, “but of creating an encounter of hearts.”
The Pope also encouraged them to mend the “nets” of broken relationships and to restore digital spaces where truth, friendship, and spiritual longing can flourish. “Weave networks that give space to others more than to yourselves,” he implored, “where no ‘bubble’ can silence the voice of the weakest.”
Following the liturgy, participants took part in an ecumenical prayer service, then gathered at the Vatican Grotto to entrust their digital apostolate to Mary, whom Pope Francis once called “God’s influencer.” There, in the quiet shadow of the garden, they prayed that their mission would be guided by wisdom, humility, and love.
The Jubilee concluded with a lively “Night of Music and Mission” held at Piazza Risorgimento, a celebration of stories, cultures, and shared joy. It was an evening that reflected the spirit of the entire gathering: diverse, hopeful, and rooted in a common desire to bring light to the digital world.
As the event ended, what remained was more than just memories. Participants left Rome recharged, not only with the words of the Pope and the witness of fellow missionaries, but with a renewed call to proclaim peace, build communion, and shine the light of Christ into the farthest corners of the digital continent.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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