Bishop Badejo Highlights Pope Leo XIV’s Communication Message

During the International Communication Conference at Rome’s Pontifical Urbaniana University on May 21, Nigeria’s Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo reiterated Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis on the need for communication that fosters connection rather than alienation. The conference, themed “Preserving Human Voices and Faces,” served as a platform to explore contemporary communication challenges.

Bishop Badejo, who leads the Diocese of Oyo and is known for his expertise in communication and media, commented on the significance of the theme for the 60th World Day of Social Communications. He described it as a timely reminder of Pope Leo XIV’s concern regarding the diminishing role of personal interaction in today's social communication landscape.

“Authentic communication must promote communion with God and with our fellow men and women,” he asserted. “Bad communication does the exact opposite, causing division, stress, and conflict.” He stressed that even in times of conflict, communication should never exclude or excommunicate others, emphasizing the critical importance of avoiding alienation.

The message for World Communication Day aims to encourage individuals to balance faith, humanity, and digital presence in their daily relationships, Bishop Badejo noted.

Moreover, the Bishop cautioned against an overdependence on digital technologies and criticized what he termed the “artificialisation of communication.” Excessive reliance on technology can impede familial, friendly, and communal bonds, he warned. Yet, he also advocated against the outright demonization of digital media and Artificial Intelligence (AI), calling for responsible engagement and media literacy.

“Only by preserving human voices and faces in our society can we ensure the re-humanisation of our world, which in many ways is deeply dehumanised,” he concluded, reinforcing the Pope's call to nurture authentic communication that brings people together rather than drives them apart.