SIGNIS

SIGNIS
FormationWorld Assembly OCIC and Unda in Rome 2001
TypeInternational Non-Profit Organisation
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Location
  • 90 countries in 6 World Regions
Membership
  • 113 members
  • 5 associate members
Official languages
English, French, Spanish
Secretary General
Peter Rachada Monthienvichienchai (Thailand)
President
Helen Osman (USA)
Vice-President
María José Centurión (Paraguay)
Vice-President
Paul Samasumo (Zambia)
Ecclesiastical Assistant
[[Fr Pedro Sanchez] (Spain)
Websitewww.signis.world
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SIGNIS (official name: World Catholic Association for Communication)[1] is a Roman Catholic lay ecclesial movement for professionals in the communication media, including press, radio, television, cinema, video, media education, internet, and new technology. It is a non-profit organization with representation from over 100 countries. It was formed in November 2001 by the merger of International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisual (OCIC) and International Catholic Association for Radio and Television (Unda). At its World Congress in Quebec in 2017, SIGNIS welcomed also former member organisations of the International Catholic Union of the Press (UCIP).

The word SIGNIS (always in uppercase) is a combination of the words SIGN and IGNIS (Latin for "fire"). It is not an acronym.[2]

The Holy See has officially recognized SIGNIS as an International Association of the Faithful and has included the "World Catholic Association for Communication, also known as SIGNIS" in its Directory of International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.[1] Before the dissolution of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the governing body of SIGNIS included a representative of this pontifical council, another department of the Roman Curia.[1][3][4][5] OCIC, Unda, and SIGNIS had also members and consultors in the Pontifical Council of Social Communications.[6][7] In June 2015, Pope Francis established a new dicastery of the Roman Curia with authority over all communications offices of the Holy See and the Vatican City State, including the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Holy See Press Office, Vatican Internet Service, Vatican Radio, Vatican Television Center, Osservatore Romano, Vatican Press (it), Photograph Service, and Vatican Publishing House. A representative of this new Secretariat for Communications is part of the governing body of SIGNIS.

SIGNIS has consultative status with UNESCO, the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, in Geneva and New York City and the Council of Europe.[8]

  1. ^ a b c "Vatican". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  2. ^ Peter Malone. An Ever Widening Screen: A memoir. ballarat, Vic: Connor Court Publishing, 2015, pp.375–376
  3. ^ "SIGNIS". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Board of Management". SIGNIS. Archived from the original on 12 August 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Members". SIGNIS. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  6. ^ "Signis". www.signis.net. Archived from the original on 12 August 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. ^ Annuario Pontificio. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2007. p. 1277. ISBN 978-88-209-7908-9.
  8. ^ 'SIGNIS' au service de l'oeuvre cinématographique", La Croix, Paris, Avril 9, 2013