Voices of truth and hope: Maria Ressa and Colum McCann inspire at Vatican's Jubilee of World Communications

The Jubilee of the World of Communications at the Vatican gathered thousands of thought leaders, journalists, and communicators to reflect on the media's critical role in promoting truth, unity, and hope amid an era marked by division and rampant misinformation.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and acclaimed Irish author Colum McCann delivered powerful and thought-provoking addresses at the conference held in Paul VI Hall, Vatican City, on January 25, 2025. 

Their speeches deeply resonated with the audience, underscoring the vital role of media and storytelling in fostering a more compassionate and truthful world.

Ressa, a Filipina, an icon of press freedom, painted a sobering picture of the media landscape, dominated by misinformation and manipulation. 

Highlighting the challenges posed by social media, she stated, “Lies spread six times faster on social media.” 

She warned that misinformation undermines the pillars of trust and democracy, declaring, “If you make people believe lies are facts, then you can control them. Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without these three, we don’t have a shared reality.”

She defined "information warfare" as a "geopolitical power play" that takes advantage of social media platforms' algorithms. 

“The goal is not to make you believe one thing; it’s to make you doubt everything, so you're paralyzed,” Ressa explained. 

She urged journalists to remain steadfast in their pursuit of truth, rooted in ethical principles. Invoking the Golden Rule, she called for a deeper moral grounding in communication: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Irish author and Narrative 4 co-founder McCann turned the spotlight on storytelling as a transformative force. 

“The shortest distance between any people is a story,” McCann said, underscoring the power of shared narratives in fostering empathy and unity. 

Reflecting on the correspondence between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, McCann explored humanity's “lust for hatred” and the enduring need to counteract the “psychoses of hate and destruction.”

McCann noted, "We live in the most and least human of times," highlighting the paradox of hyper-connectivity and growing isolation. 

He emphasized that storytelling could counteract this fragmentation, creating a “community of feeling” and a “mythology of the instincts” that fosters understanding. 

He warned, however, of the dangers of silencing others: “Refusing to listen to or allow others to share their stories leads to a spectacle of narrowness and dehumanization.”

In his call to action, McCann urged communicators to become “pilgrims of hope,” emphasizing that storytelling is not merely an act of communication but a foundation for societal healing and change. 

“The nullification of the stories of our supposed enemies is one of the world's most insidious weapons,” he concluded.

The Jubilee opened with a penitential liturgy at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, led by Father Giulio Albanese, followed by an international Mass celebrated by Cardinal Reina on January 24, 2025. On his feast day, the liturgy honored St. Francis de Sales, the patron of journalists, symbolizing a profound call to action for communicators.

The Jubilee of the World of Communications left participants with a renewed commitment to truth, empathy, and hope in their work. 

As Ressa aptly stated, “Without truth, we cannot build trust,” McCann reminded participants, “The shortest distance between any people is a story.” Together, their messages underscored the vital role of communication in a fractured world.