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First & Last Name: Samwel Abesi

Country of origin and residence: Kenya

Job: Radio Operations Manager - Mitume Radio-Catholic Diocese of Kitale-Kenya

How many people live in your country? 47,564,296 People based on 2019 Census.

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? 2 official languages [Swahili & English] and more than 43 ethnic languages for the ethnic groups found in Kenya.

How many Catholics are there? Over 9.7 Million based on 2019 Census.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?  Radio and Online Platforms

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today? Preaching to the ever-dynamic generation of people, especially the youth. This needs creativity and a little deviation from the traditions.

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First & Last Name: Ma. Katherine Dianne Manguera

Country of origin and residence: Marinduque, Philippines

Job: Office Secretary, Roman Catholic Diocese of Boac - Diocesan Curia, and social media manager, Dicoesan Commission on Communication

How many people live in your country? The total population as of May 2020 is 13, 484,462 according to Philippine Statistics Authority.

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? We speak two languages, Tagalog as our native language and English our secondary language.

How many Catholics are there?

85,645,362 Roman Catholic as their religious affiliation according to Philippine Statistics Authority.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

We have the Catholic Media Network (Radio Network), TV Maria, JesComm and the CBCP News.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

In our local church here in the province what stands out are Mining (re-opening of the old mining company) and improvement of Health Care.

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First & Last Name: Benedict Okoth Oduor

Country of origin and residence: Kenya, Nairobi

Job: Catechist/Communications Coordinator in the Military Ordinariate of Kenya

How many people live in your country? Approximately 57.2 million

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? There are a total of 68 languages. The commonly spoken are English and Swahili.

How many Catholics are there? There are approximately 18 million Catholics. This is, however, a figure from the National Bureau of Statistics.

How many Catholics are there? There are approximately 18 million Catholics. This is, however, a figure from the National Bureau of Statistics.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?  EWTN, Capuchin Tv and Radio Maria

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today? Youth disengagement in Church activities.

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First & Last Name: Edoardo Giribaldi

Country of origin and residence: Italy

Job: Journalist

How many people live in your country? Approximately 58.5 million people

How many and which languages are spoken in your country?

13 languages are officially spoken in Italy: Italian and the 12 minority languages recognized and protected by law.

How many Catholics are there?

In Italy, about 71.1% of the population identifies as Catholic. In absolute terms, this corresponds to approximately 41.6 million people, making Italy home to one of the largest Catholic populations in Europe.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

Vatican Media, TV2000, Avvenire.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

A general disaffection toward the Church is evident in recent data. According to the research “Italians, Faith and the Church,” conducted by Censis for the Synodal Way, 71.1% of Italians identify as Catholic. However, only 15.3% are practicing Catholics, while 34.9% participate in Church life occasionally, and 20.9% consider themselves non-practicing. The disaffection appears to stem largely from religious individualism, cited by 54.4% of respondents, and a widespread perception that the Church is unable to adapt to the modern world. More than 40% of Italians say they do not identify with the Church, which they view as outdated and not sufficiently inclusive.

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First & Last Name: Gauravi Xavier

Country of origin and residence: India- State of Gujarat- Capital City- Gandhinagar

Job:

I work as an Assistant Professor at a Pharmacy College

How many people live in your country? India is home to approximately 1.46 billion people, making it the most populous country in the world.

How many and which languages are spoken in your country?

India is incredibly diverse linguistically, with over 19,500 dialects spoken across the country. Among these, 121 languages are spoken by more than 10,000 people each. The Indian Constitution officially recognizes 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Gujarati (my mother tongue).

How many Catholics are there?

Catholics make up approximately 1.57% of India’s population—around 21 million people. In my home state of Gujarat, Christians form about 0.52% of the population (around 316,000 people out of a total of 60.4 million), with Catholics being a subset of this number.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

Due to India’s vast diversity in language and culture, Catholic media is highly decentralized and community-specific. A significant initiative at the national level is the Catholic Connect app launched by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), aiming to unite Catholics across the country.

Media outreach includes:

● Regional Catholic TV channels in states like Kerala and Punjab.

● YouTube channels sharing homilies, catechesis, and spiritual talks.

● Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook are used by various parishes and youth groups for evangelization and community building.

● In Gujarat, notable media include:

“Doot” (rhymes with Boot), a Gujarati-language magazine meaning "Messenger/Angel."

“Gurjarvani” (Goor-jar-vaa-nee), a media house serving the Catholic community through publications and audio-visual content.

The Archdiocese of Gandhinagar’s monthly e-newsletter, The Chronicle, which provides updates and reflections for the local Catholic community.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

There are two pressing concerns facing the local Church in Gujarat:

1. Legal and Political Challenges: The Church in Gujarat is navigating religious and political tension in a polarized environment. The presence of anti-conversion law creates a climate of fear, suspicion, and restriction for Christian communities. While the Church has always focused on service through education, healthcare, and social outreach, it is increasingly viewed through a political lens. This impacts freedom of worship and puts pressure on institutions that have served people of all faiths for generations. The socio-political atmosphere often does not support the Catholic minority.

2. Youth Disengagement and Migration: A growing number of young people are either migrating out of the state/country or gradually disengaging from the Church. Those who stay often struggle to see the Church as relevant to their daily lives. There is a significant communication gap between the Church’s teachings and the lived experiences of young people today. Cultural and linguistic diversity within parishes can also pose challenges to unified pastoral outreach.

3. Lack of Representation and Advocacy: The Catholic community in Gujarat is a minority within a minority, often lacking strong representation in local governance or civil society. This makes it difficult to advocate for the community’s rights or to respond effectively to discrimination or misinformation. There's a need for stronger lay leadership and engagement in public discourse to safeguard the interests of the Church.

4. Faith Formation in Digital World: A critical challenge facing the Church in Gujarat is the gap in faith formation in the digital age, especially among the youth. Young Catholics today turn to digital spaces for meaning and guidance, yet often find the Church absent or unrelatable online. As a result, many feel disconnected from their faith or drift toward secular influences. While lay youth are eager to engage, they lack the support or training to become digital evangelizers. On the other hand, many clergy, though spiritually committed, feel unprepared to use digital tools effectively for catechesis or outreach.

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First & Last Name: Guglielmo Gallone

Country of origin and residence: Italy

Job: Journalist At L’osservatore Romano – Radio Vaticana – Vatican News

How many people live in your country? 58 milllion

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? Italian, But Also English, French And Spanish As Other Languages

How many Catholics are there?

70% Of The Population

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

Avvenire, L’osservatore Romano, Radio Vaticana, Vatican News, Tv2000 Radio Maria.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

Communication With Young People, In Order To Individualistic Society, Antrophological Crisis And Relations With Communitarian Space.

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First & Last Name: Kendall McLaren

Country of origin and residence:

United States of America

Job: Communications Associate. Focusing on social media and brining the Church to all in the digital age.

How many people live in your country?

Around 340 million.

How many and which languages are spoken in your country?

Estimated between 300-500

How many Catholics are there?Estimated 60 million.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

There are many. Publications, news outlets, influencers, etc. Many of these Catholic media groups or individuals utilize a variety of methods to communicate effectively with the greater Church.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

Division. Politically, morally and theologically.

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First & Last Name: Laura Lazić

Country of origin and residence: Croatia

Job: journalist/communication science student

How many people live in your country? 3,8 milion people

How many and which languages are spoken in your country?

Only Croatian

How many Catholics are there?

Around 83 %

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

HKR (Croatian Catholic Radio), IKA (Informative Catholic Agency), bitno.net (Internet portal), Laudato TV, Glas Koncila (weekly newspapers)

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

I think that many people in Croatia consider religion a part of tradition, or something they must do. There is lack of relationship with God and truly living Christian life. At the same time, we have a problem with understanding clerics as some kind of politicians and not the ones who should serve the others, as Christ did when he washed his students’ feet.

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First & Last Name: Miral Atik

Country of origin and residence: My country of origin and current residency is Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine

Job: Media Officer at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which cares for the Catholics in the Holy Land (Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and Cyprus)

How many people live in your country? According to Worldometer, as of April 2025, the estimated mid-year population is approximately 5,589,623 for the State of Palestine and 9,517,181 for the State of Israel. Given the intertwined geographies and shared spaces, acknowledging both populations is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the region's demographic landscape.

How many and which languages are spoken in your country?

In general, there is two official languages which are spoken in Palestine it is Arabic and in Israel, Hebrew, yet the English language is generally well spoken by most.

How many Catholics are there?

Unfortunately, I could not get an exact number but approximately there are over 80,000 Catholics in the State of Palestine (including Jerusalem).

There are approximately 200,000 Catholic migrants living in Israel.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

The most well-known Catholic media outlet in the region is the Christian Media Center, affiliated with the Custody of the Holy Land. I also work with another key Catholic voice—the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Additionally, there is one Christian TV channel in the region called Al-Mahed TV.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

I believe one of the most pressing challenges in my local Church is the growing distance many youth—and even adults—feel from the Church. This disconnection stems from various reasons: a lack of spiritual depth and understanding, as Scripture says, their love has grown cold; and others have stepped away due to personal wounds or disagreements with the Church’s political stance. At the heart of it, I see a deep need for renewed catechesis—an invitation to truly understand Catholic teaching and spirituality—and a compassionate outreach to those who feel hurt or lost, breaking the enemy’s lies with the healing power of truth.

Another serious concern is the political situation in our country, which has left many Christians weary and disheartened, with an increasing desire to emigrate. This exodus poses a major challenge to the Church’s presence and mission in the Holy Land.

Lastly, though it’s not often talked about, I believe it’s a unique gift that we Christians in the Holy Land live so closely with Muslims and Jews. This proximity is an opportunity to witness to Christ and awaken a longing to know the Messiah who came to save us all. Sadly, for many, this closeness has also led to bitterness and division. I pray the Holy Spirit brings healing, reconciliation, and a renewed spirit of love among us, the local faithful.

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First & Last Name: Natalia Tarnowska

Country of origin and residence: Poland

Job: Social media/Digital Mission Responsible and Events coordinator in Archdiocese of Lodz, Poland

How many people live in your country? Approx. 37 million

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? Just one - Polish

How many Catholics are there? Approx. 27,1 million ~ 71,3% (2023)

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?  eKAI, Gość Niedzielny, Niedziela, Stacja7, Deon

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today? Lack of unity and not being open for others.

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First & Last Name: Carmelle Claire Therese Estenzo

Country of origin and residence: Danao City, Cebu, Philippines

Job: Content Coordinator, Cebu Archdiocesan Digital Communications Ministry

How many people live in your country? Around 114 million

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? Since the Philippines is an archipelago, most of the islands or regions speak their own native language. We have more or less 187 languages. The most common are English, Filipino, Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon. I only speak English, Filipino, and Cebuano.

How many Catholics are there?

Research says that 78.8% of the population, or around 90 million Filipinos, are Catholics. I come from the largest Archdiocese in our country, Cebu. We have around 5 million Catholics.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?

With the advent of modern technology, many archdioceses, parishes and organizations have embraced social media as a powerful tool for evangelization. Yet, amidst the digital revolution, traditional media like TV and radio continue to thrive.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today?

I think that the most crucial issue that our local Church is dealing with today is the rampant erosion of morality. This concern encompasses a wide range of topics that challenge our values and beliefs, including differing views on divorce, abortion, same-sex marriage, the ongoing drug war, and the never-ending corruption. Many are struggling with their moral compass.

The country’s political setting has also sparked debates that often leave families divided rather than united in love and understanding.

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First & Last Name:: Oluwaseun Wende

Country of origin and residence: Nigeria

Job: Communications & Media Management

How many people live in your country? Over 250 million, according to the last census

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? Over 250+ languages but there are three major tribes. Hausa – Northern Nigeria, Igbo – South-Eastern Nigeria, and Yoruba – Southwestern Nigeria. The others are ethnic groups, such as Kanuri, Ibibio, Bini, Esan, Tiv, Idoma, etc.

How many Catholics are there? Catholics in Nigeria make up 15% of the Nigeria giving it the position of being second-highest in Africa, after the Democratic Republic of Congo.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?  Lumen Christi Television Network, Catholic Television of Nigeria, Diocesan and Religious Congregations Social Media pages

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today? In my personal opinion, insecurity is the most crucial issue the Catholic Church is facing in Nigeria today. I was born and brought up in Owo, Ondo State before moving around the country for education and work. My home parish is St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo and on Pentecost Sunday, 2022, gunmen attacked my church and killed 40 worshippers and leaving many more injured. Two out those were my godparents for 25 years before they died that day.

Other than that, Priests and religious have become fodder for the Islamic terrorists of Northern Nigeria, who have now partly migrated to the south. Approximately, 145 Catholic Priests have been kidnapped in the past decade and 20 have been killed. Five Seminarians have also lost their lives to this insurgency. In the North, Catholic worshippers find it difficult to attend Masses because they do not know if it would be their last.

So, insecurity is the most crucial issue my local church is facing, in my opinion.

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First & Last Name: Rachel Wong

Country of origin and residence: Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Job: Marketing Manager, Archdiocese of Vancouver (BC)

How many people live in your country?

40.1 million (2023 census)

How many and which languages are spoken in your country?  The World Population Review cites that apart from the official national languages of English and French, there are about 128 “immigrant” languages and about 66 Indigenous languages. The most common among the spoken immigrant languages are Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Arabic, and Italian.

How many Catholics are there? 10.88 million (2021 census)

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?  National Catholic press would be The Catholic Register. Multimedia would be Salt + Light TV.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today? I believe the vocations shortage is probably our greatest challenge. We have many Catholics, many of whom live in rural areas, and not enough priests to service all the parishes and the people who want to receive the sacraments. The number of priests retiring is outpacing that of men being ordained to the priesthood.

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First & Last Name: Sebastián Andrés Sansón Ferrari

Country of origin and residence: Originally from Uruguay / Currently residing in Italy

Job: Journalist

How many people live in your country? 3.499.451, according to the last census (2023)

How many and which languages are spoken in your country?  Uruguay's official language is Spanish, and it is spoken by nearly the entire population. However, there is a smaller community where another language is also present: Portuguese (especially near the Brazilian border, with a local dialect called "Portuñol", which is a mix between Portuguese and Spanish).

How many Catholics are there? As per the most recent report by the Latinobarómetro Corporation, published in 2023, Uruguay holds the distinction of being the least religious country in Latin America. This trend reflects a long-standing process of secularization, as Uruguay has historically maintained a strong separation between church and state—more so than many of its regional neighbors. When asked “What is your religion?”, nearly half of Uruguayans (47.2%) stated they had no religious affiliation, highlighting a cultural shift away from institutional religion. Additionally, 1.2% identified explicitly as atheists, while 0.3% described themselves as agnostic.

Despite this context, Catholicism remains the most predominant religion in the country, with 36.5% of respondents identifying as Catholic. However, this percentage has been gradually decreasing, indicating that while Catholic traditions and holidays are still deeply woven into Uruguay’s cultural fabric, active religious participation has declined. Smaller but notable portions of the population follow other faiths: 4.6% identified as Evangelicals (unspecified denomination), and 2.8% reported practicing Afro-American religions such as Umbanda, which have a visible presence in certain communities.

In the face of growing secularism, the Catholic Church in Uruguay continues to seek new and meaningful ways to evangelize. Through renewed pastoral initiatives, digital media outreach, and a focus on social and community engagement, the Church strives to connect with individuals—particularly younger generations—who may feel distant from traditional religious structures. This ongoing effort reflects the Church’s commitment to remain a relevant spiritual presence in an increasingly pluralistic and secular society. Stay tuned for a development of this particular aspect.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?  When it comes to Catholic media in Uruguay, there are a few notable outlets that work to maintain a public presence and offer religious content, despite the overall modest scale of Catholic communication in the country.

One of the more prominent platforms is Radio Oriental (770 AM), a traditional radio station that includes Catholic programming among its broader content. It has served for decades as a space where Catholic voices can be heard, especially through Sunday Mass broadcasts and religious commentary.

The Iglesia Católica Montevideo portal is the official digital platform of the Archdiocese of Montevideo. It features news, interviews, videos, and pastoral messages. It plays a key role in promoting Church initiatives and events, and also serves as a resource for those seeking information on Catholic life in the capital and beyond.

Additionally, online platforms and social media have become increasingly important tools for Catholic communication. Many dioceses, especially Montevideo under the leadership of Cardinal Daniel Sturla, have embraced digital evangelization through Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and other channels. These platforms help the Church engage with younger audiences and provide more dynamic content, such as video reflections, live-streamed Masses, and catechetical materials.

However, despite these efforts, Catholic media in Uruguay remains relatively limited in scope and influence. There is no major national Catholic television channel, and Catholic print media has a minor footprint. Compared to other Latin American countries with larger Catholic networks, Uruguay’s Catholic communication is still in development. It faces challenges not only from secularization but also from limited resources, competition with mainstream media, and a cultural environment where religion plays a less visible role in public discourse.

Still, the Church continues to explore new forms of outreach, seeking creative ways to share the Gospel in a society where traditional religious communication is no longer as prominent.

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today? One of the biggest challenges for the Catholic Church in Uruguay today is reconnecting with an increasingly secular and indifferent society. With declining religious affiliation, especially among the youth, the Church is working to:

Renew evangelization efforts

Address social issues with compassion (e.g., poverty, education, human dignity)

Remain relevant in public debates, without being seen as outdated or dogmatic

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First & Last Name: Brendah Muthoni

Country of origin and residence: Kenya

Job: Art For Education-Programme Officer, Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops

How many people live in your country? 58.2 million

How many and which languages are spoken in your country? English, Kiswahili , local community languages.

How many Catholics are there?  According to official Catholic Church records, Kenya is home to over 18 million baptized Catholics, representing nearly 40% of the country's population. Data from the 2019 National Housing Census indicates that 10.6 million of these Catholics are strict adherents who attend Mass regularly.

What are the most widespread Catholic media in your country?  Radio Waumini, Capuchin TV, Radio Maria, Church Facebook Pages

What do you think is the most crucial issue your local Church is dealing with today? Many young people today are drifting away from the Church — they’re not coming to Mass regularly, joining catechism classes, or getting involved in parish activities like they used to.