GUWAHATI, June 20, 2026
Sixteen participants, including twelve senior candidates and four religious sisters of the Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa (SCCG), reflected on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (MH), during a formation session held at Mangalalaya Provincialate in Guwahati.
The session was led by the NESCOM Secretary Father Kampan Chinnam, who introduced the key themes of the encyclical, published on May 25, 2026, on the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s landmark social encyclical Rerum Novarum.
Explaining the document’s central message, the NESCOM Secretary highlighted the Christian understanding of human dignity, emphasizing that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Drawing on biblical examples presented in MH, he reflected on the story of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1–9) and the leadership of the prophet Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
He noted that before undertaking the rebuilding project, Nehemiah fasted, prayed, interceded for the people, and sought permission from the king. More importantly, he rebuilt relationships among the people before rebuilding physical structures. The example, Father Chinnam noted, offers an important lesson for contemporary society and the Church.
Referring to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and rapid technological development, he stressed that technology must always serve humanity and never undermine the dignity of the human person.
“Artificial intelligence has no conscience and cannot replace human conscience,” he said, echoing one of the key concerns raised in the encyclical.
The Northeast Catholic Church Communications Secretary also emphasized that information without wisdom and communication without genuine communion are insufficient for building a just and humane society. In a fragmented world marked by division and conflict, he noted, Christian hope remains essential and is strengthened when dialogue triumphs over division.
Participants reflected on the encyclical’s call to defend human dignity, promote peace, accompany vulnerable persons, and communicate truth with responsibility and compassion.
The programme was organised by the Northeast Social Communication (NESCOM), the Commission for Social Communication of the Northeast India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC), as part of its ongoing efforts to promote media literacy, ethical communication, and engagement with contemporary issues in the light of Catholic social teaching.
The encyclical session formed part of a five-day training programme on pronunciation and phonetics conducted by NESCOM for the SCCG senior candidates. The course aimed to strengthen communication skills, improve public speaking, and prepare participants for effective ministry in diverse pastoral settings.
Report by: SCCG Sisters at Mangalalaya, Guwahati