FOR JOURNALISTS
January 24-26, 2024 in Lourdes, France
Times of upheaval
PROGRAM catholiques.fr
WHAT DO artificial intelligence (AI) and the synod on synodality have in common? At first glance, not
much. But, for our Catholic media, the approach desired by Pope Francis and the upheaval of AI are both shaking up our habits and our practices, and reexamining our reason for being, both as “media” and in as “Catholics”.
These two challenges also question our ways of doing things and our positions in a world that seems ever more
changing, when it is not always more slippery. Added to these challenges is also the return of violence in Europe with the
war in Ukraine, which reminds us that our mission to inform is not always without risk and can make us priority targets.
As Catholic media, how can we adapt to this times of upheaval?
Xavier Le Normand,
program coordinator
Download flyer for more info: Mise en page 1 (medias-catholiques.fr)
TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2024
08:30 pm — Hotel SaintSauveur
Friendly welcome dinner for those already present
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24, 2024
From 10:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 02:30 pm to 03:45 pm — Hotel Panorama
Reception of participants, registration, distribution of badges and files
From 04:30 pm and until the end of the Congress, the reception desk will be set up in the entrance hall of the CEF hemicycle.
From 12:30 pm to 02:15 pm — Hotel Panorama (restaurant on the 1st floor)
Friendly seated lunch
Plenary 1. Media facing oppression
Conferencedebate / Hemicycle / Wednesday January 24 / 05:45 pm 07:00 pm
The return of war – whether in Europe or in the Holy Land – has brutally reminded our media of our duty to inform, including
on the worst realities by confronting them.
This mission, which is also our reason for being, can directly expose the lives of journalists on the ground and make our media
targets, directly or in a sneakier way. But how to fulfill this duty?
And do we have a special responsibility as Catholic media?
Speakers:
Paterno R. Esmaquel II
Paterno R. Esmaquel II is a journalist and leads religion coverage for Rappler, an internationally renowned media outlet based
in Manila, Philippines.
Paterno was one of Rappler’s first reporters in 2012 and served as its news editor from 2020 to 2023. A media professional for
sixteen years, Paterno is also a professor of journalism at University of Santo Tomas, a pontifical university run by the Dominicans
and one of the oldest Catholic universities in Asia.
He holds two master’s degrees – MA in Journalism from the Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, and MSC in Asian Studies
(Religions in Plural Societies) from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
MarieArmelle Beaulieu
Journalist, MarieArmelle Beaulieu is editorinchief of Terre Sainte Magazine, the newspaper in French of the Franciscans of the
Custody of the Holy Land.
Having lived in Jerusalem for more than thirty years, MarieArmelle Beaulieu experienced the full force of the return of war to
the Holy Land with the attacks of October 7 followed by the Israeli response.
From 04:00 pm to 05:00 pm — Basilica of the Rosary (lower basilica, at esplanade level)
Opening Mass of the Congress
Feast of Saint Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists.
From 05:15 pm to 05:45 pm — Hemicycle of the Conference of Bishops of France
OPENING OF THE CONGRESS
Presentation of the theme by Xavier Le Normand, program coordinator.
From 07:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Free time
From 08:00 pm — Hotel Panorama (restaurant on the 1st floor)
Standing buffet dinner
THURSDAY JANUARY 25
From 08:00 am to 09:00 am — Basilica of the Rosary
Mass
Plenary 2. Will AI replace us all?
Conferencedebate / Hemicycle / Thursday January 25 / 09:15 am 10:45 am
From generating text to aiding decisionmaking, from creating images to advising in medical diagnosis, the possibilities of artificial intelligence seem endless.
Often, the solutions proposed or taken by AI seem to equal, when they do not exceed in a fraction of a second, the capabilities
of human intelligence. So will AI replace us all?
This question is not without raising important ethical issues, especially since AI is the product of humans, by definition fallible.
From 10:45 am to 11:15 am — Hemicycle hall
Coffee break and time for informal discussions. Press table available free of charge.
Thematic workshops
Thursday January 25 / Hemicycle and other room indicated on site / 11:15 am 12:15 pm
One hour of workshop, in small groups, to discuss between participants and with guests on the following themes (of your choice)
- How can the media be actors of synodality?
Catholic media have a privileged link with an entire population of believers: their readers. While Pope Francis calls the entire
Church for a “synodal conversion”, should our media also embark on this path? In what terms, for what purposes and how
can they respond to this call from Pope Francis?
Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika
Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika is a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria. He completed his university studies
at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Salesian University of Rome.
He is currently a Professor of Development Communication and Media Studies and also Dean, Faculty of Communication
and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt.
He is president of Signis Africa.
Alessandro Gisotti
Alessandro Gisotti, born in Rome in 1974, is a professional journalist. Since July 2019, he has been vice editorial director
of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, after having been interim director of the Press Office of the Holy See.
From 2000 to 2016 he worked at Vatican Radio, where he was viceeditorinchief. From 2017 to the end of 2018, he coordinated Vatican News social media.
He taught journalism at the Jesuit Instituto Massimo in Rome and Theories and Techniques of Journalism at the Pontificia
Università Lateranense. Among his publications, we find The Decalogue of the Good Communicator according to Pope Francis,published by Elledici with a preface by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
In 2022, he interviewed Pope Francis for the Holy See’s daily newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. - Does ChatGPT have its place in our editorial offices?
Being able to generate articles in a few clicks and illustrations just as easily, could artificial intelligence replace our editorial
staff? Some media also rely heavily on this instant generation. But without going to this distortion of journalism, generative
artificial intelligence can provide many services.
Are these legitimate or is it a betrayal of our profession and our readers?
Cécilia Gabizon
A graduate of Essec, Cécilia Gabizon is a French journalist and founder of the School Media Maker, a journalism school.
Having worked for France Télévisions and Le Figaro, se his now VicePrésident and Editorial Director of ETX Majelan.
Speakers :
Mathilde Saliou
Journalist and author, specializing in digital technology, Mathilde Saliou covers themes linked to tech, information, as well as
inequalities present in the media and connected worlds. She has collaborated with various media such as The Guardian, 20 Minutes,
Slate, Numerama, Les Inrocks and La Déferlante and works mainly for Next. She published Technofeminism, how digital technologyworsens inequalities, in February 2023, published by Grasset..
Alexandru Ginsca
With 15 years of experience in the field of artificial intelligence, Alexandru Ginsca holds a doctorate in computer science, has
published more than 50 scientific articles on a wide range of topics, from multimedia content analysis to credibility of the ‘information.
He has assisted businesses and government agencies in developing their AI capabilities, helping them design and implement
innovative AIbased use cases. Alexandru is currently the Head of Data Science within BearingPoint’s Product Division, where he oversees the development of innovative AI solutions across multiple business areas, including the news and publishing industries..
Mathieu Guillermin
Mathieu Guillermin is a doctor in physics and philosophy, lecturer at the Catholic University of Lyon, and member of the
Confluence: Sciences and Humanities research unit (EA 1598). He coordinates the international project “New Humanism at the time of Neurosciences and Artificial Intelligence”.
His research focuses on the connection between ethics, science and technology. He is particularly interested in the philosophical and ethical issues raised by digital technologies. On December 14, he presented at the Vatican Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Peace published under the title “Artificial Intelligence and Peace”.
From 03:30 pm to 04:00 pm — Hemicycle hall
Welcome drink offered by the Lourdes Tourist Office
Tasting of natural fruit juices and artisan pastries from local producers.
Speakers :
JeanPaul Sagadou
An Assumptionist religious of Burkinabè origin, JeanPaul Sagadou has a degree in theology from the Catholic Institute of Paris. He has been working for several years to break down the physical, cultural and religious barriers that stand between young Africans by organizing African Integration Trips (V.I.A). He is currently editorinchief of Prions en Église Afrique, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. For many years, he has published columns in Burkinabè magazines but also in La Croix Africa where you can read a few articles by him on the concept of ubuntu and synodality.
Joachim Heinz
At 49, Joachim Heinz is a journalist, editor since 2007 at the Catholic press agency KNA (Katolische Nachrichten Agentur) in
Bonn, Germany.
He specializes in the fields of history, theology and subjects relating to the Third World.
Inès San Martin
Graduated with a master’s degree in communications from the Austral University of Buenos Aires, Inés San Martín (born in Rosario, Santa Fe, 1986) is an Argentine journalist, former coeditor and manager of the newspaper Crux in Rome between 2014 and Since September 2022, she is vice president of marketing and communications for the American branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies (OPM). She has lectured on Pope Francis, the Vatican, and Church communications in the United States, Chile, Mexico,Italy, and Ireland. [By videoconference].
Great witness
Conference / Hemicycle / Thursday January 25 / 04:00 pm 04:45 pm
The Congress welcomes its great witness:
The Apostolic Nuncio to France
Archbishop Celestino Migliore
Born in 1952, Mgr Celestino Migliore was ordained priest in 1977 and entered the same year at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy,the training institution for diplomatic personnel of the Holy See.
He notably served as undersecretary for relations with States from 1995 to 2002, before being appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.
He subsequently served as Nuncio to Poland, Russia and Uzbekistan. In January, 2020, Pope Francis appointed him head of the apostolic nunciature in Paris.
A great witness to the 2024 Meetings, Archbishop Migliore will look back on this very special ministry of a lifetime at the service of the the Holy See’s diplomacy. In particular, he will discuss his current mission in Paris.
At the end of his testimony and the discussion with the audience, he agreed to award the 2024 Père Jacques Hamel Prize.
Plenary 3. Expectations and visions of the Synod throughout the world
Conference debate / Hemicycle / Thursday January 25 / 02:15 pm 03:30 pm
In his message for World Communications Day 2023, Pope Francis recognized that “the ecclesial community is not exempt”
from the “polarizations and contrapositions” which mark the current period in history.
Exacerbated by social networks, internal divisions in the Catholic Church sometimes seem to be getting worse every day, becoming more and more violent. Among the objects of this polarization, the synod on synodality desired by Pope Francis, considered by some to be a source of confusion and therefore divisions. By shedding light on these divisions, can the synod help heal them?
From 12:30 pm to 02:00 pm — Hotel Panorama (restaurant on the 1st floor)
Friendly seated lunch
Thematic workshops
January 25 / Hemicycle and other room indicated on site / 04:00 pm 05:00 pm
One hour of workshop, in small groups, to discuss between participants and with guests on the following themes (of your choice) - Should our media be at the service of the unity of the Church?
Catholic media play an important role in the life of the Church. But as the divisions between Catholics spread and become visible, what position should we adopt? Is it the role of Catholic media to give visibility to these divisions or, conversely, should we adopt a more cautious approach so as not to reinforce them? By reporting them, do our media not in fact run the risk of becoming stakeholders in these divisions?
Speakers :
Antonio Olivié
Antonio Olivié has been a journalist and CEO of Rome Reports TV since 2015. In this capacity, he has produced six documentaries for commercial and Catholic television on the Pope and the Vatican.
Previously, he worked as deputy editor of the Spanish national newspaper Qué! (Vocento group). He was a Washington
correspondent for the 2012 US presidential elections and was a contributing editor for the Spanish newspaper ABC. Rome
Reports currently has over 800,000 YouTube subscribers.
Clotilde Hamon
Journalist and editorinchief at Famille Chrétienne, Clotilde Hamon works particularly on Church news, spiritual, cultural
and societal subjects. - How can we use AI in our businesses?
Artificial intelligence does not only concern journalists and illustrators. Coders, legal managers, recruitment managers… All our
professions can benefit in one way or another from the support of artificial intelligence in some of our tasks. So how can we take advantage of this seemingly unlimited resource?
Speaker :
Cyrille Frank
Cyrille Frank, consultant, trainer and speaker on good practices in content and journalism, supports the media in their
digital transformation on editorial, management or organizational issues, via his company Mediaculture.
He was previously: director of training and digital transformation of the CosaVostra agency; director of ESJ Pro Media,
professional journalism school; editorial director of the major American portals AOL and Altavista; web journalist (ZDnet),
press (Futur France) and radio (Fun radio). It publishes a weekly newsletter: newsletter.mediarama.io and feeds the site:
mediaculture.fr about major trends, business models and good media practices.
From 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm
Free time
From 08:00 pm — Hôtel Panorama (restaurant on the 1st floor)
Standing buffet dinner
hosted by Dominique Bouchait, master cheesemaker, Meilleur Ouvrier de France
FRIDAY JANUARY 26
From 08:00 am to 09:00 am — Basilica of the Rosary
Mass
Thematic workshops
Friday January 26 / Hemicycle and other room indicated on site / 9:15 am 10 am
In a workshop, in small groups, to discuss between participants and with guests on the following themes (of your choice)
- AI cathos: the example of CatéGPT
Generations of images, contracts, job offers, articles… but also catechetical responses! Based on ChatGPT, CatéGPT seeks to recreate Catholic teaching in a fun way, trying to be as faithful as possible to the texts of the Catholic Church while giving
this tool the appearance of a discussion.
Speaker:
Nicolas Torcheboeuf
An engineer in Switzerland, Nicolas Torcheboeuf is interested in new technologies and particularly in what concerns artificial intelligence. With his brother, he notes a great ignorance of the fundamental texts of the Church among the young
people of their generation, even among practicing Catholics. The technologies around ChatGPT quickly appeared as a fantastic opportunity to rediscover all these texts: Holy Scripture, catechism, Encyclicals, etc. in a simplified way, in order to
answer all the questions that we may ask ourselves today. - What rules for the use of AI?
Faced with the rise of artificial intelligence, it is becoming increasingly difficult to know whether information is genuine and
processed by a human, or whether it was generated by an AI.
Faced with uncertainties and the risks of spreading false information, charters and commitments are being put in place, in
order to certify media as producers of true information.
Speaker :
Arthur Grimonpont
Arthur Grimonpont is an engineer, essayist and specialist in the transition issues of our societies in the face of technological and environmental risks. His investigation into the role of social media in the formation of opinions and the propagation
of information led him to publish an essay entitled Algocracy (Actes Sud, 2022).
In his capacity as “artificial intelligence” project manager at Reporters sans Frontières, he is rapporteur for the international commission that developed the Paris Charter on AI and journalism.
From 10:00 am to 10:45 am — Hemicycle Hall
Tasting of regional products with the friendly participation of cheese producers (cow, goat and sheep), local cured meats,
artisanal preserves, Jurançon winemakers, etc. Possibility of purchase.
Plenary 4. The synod can he repair the divisions of the Church?
Conferencedebate / Hemicycle / Wednesday January 26 / 10:45 am 11:45 am
Launched by Pope Francis in 2021, the synod on synodality began with a major consultation across the world, culminating in national syntheses and then work on a continental scale. If certain subjects appeared to be universal concerns, these summaries also highlighted that both the vision of the synod itself and the expectations regarding it could vary greatly from one country to another, when they do not oppose each other.
Hopes raised in some countries are as many fears in others. These divergences can be explained by historical reasons, practices and different theological views. The whole challenge of the second Roman assembly, then of the magisterial document which will eventually follow, will be to succeed in getting these voices to agree.
From 11:45 am to 12:00 pm — Hemicycle of the Conference of Bishops of France
CONCLUSION OF THE CONGRESS
From 12:30 pm to 02:00 pm — Hotel Panorama (restaurant on the 1st floor)
Friendly seated lunch
For people leaving before lunch, possibility of a takeaway packed lunch (to be reserved when registering).
From 03:00 pm to 03:45 pm — At the Sanctuaries Reception and Information Center
Screening of the film on the message of Saint Bernadette (to be confirmed)
As every year, the Federation provides you with free shuttles on arrival and departure, connecting the SaintJoseph gate of the sanctuaries (50 m from the hotels) to train stations and airports. VTC, minibus or touring coaches will be identifiable by their “Congress St. Francis de Sales” sign. The schedules will be communicated to you by email before the Congress and on site at the reception stand. For your trip, we invite you to consult sncfconnect.com, volotea.com, ryanair.com,
and other reservation sites. Recommended times from Paris: by train, departure Wednesday at 06:39 am (arrival at 11:22 am), return Friday at 12:57 pm (arrival
Paris 05:49 pm) by direct TGV Inoui; by direct plane Volotea, departure Orly Wednesday 08:45 (arrival at 10:10), return Friday departure 18:40 (arrival Orly at 20:05).
Recommended times from Rome: direct Ryanair/Air Malta flight, departure Wednesday at 02:25 pm (arrival at 04:25 pm), return Saturday at 08:50 am (arrival
Rome 10:40 am); no direct return flight on Friday, compulsory transit from Toulouse via Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid or other major European destinations.
Speakers :
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis is a Catholic writer, editor and podcaster from the United States. He is the cofounder and editorinchief of the
website Where Peter Is (wherepeteris.com), which publishes articles and commentary on the Catholic Church.
He has written extensively on the traditionalist and ideological opposition to Pope Francis that is pervasive in the American
Church and elsewhere. Previously, Michael worked in the communications department of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) and for the Catholic Climate Covenant. He is married with four children and lives near Washington, DC.
MarieLucile Kubacki
Head of the religion section at the weekly La Vie, Vaticanist, correspondent in Rome, MarieLucile Kubacki has covered religious
news since 2011.
In 2017, she cowrote the book: Why Religious? This life is worth it, with Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Synod
of Bishops. She is the author of numerous articles, analyzes and reports in the Vatican, in France and in several countries around
the world.
Sister Christine Danel
Sister Christine Danel, trained as a doctor, is a nun of the Xavière congregation. She has notably worked for over fifteen years
at a research center for HIV/AIDS in Côte d’Ivoire. In 2017, she was elected as the superior of her congregation for a sixyear term.
Sister Christine Danel was appointed as an expert by Pope Francis at the synodal assembly held in Rome last October.
[By videoconference].