Throughout history, the Gospel has called us to share peace and goodness in the languages and places of the people. Today, this mission extends to the vast and complex world of digital media. As Friars Minor, we are invited not only to be present in these spaces but to live our Franciscan life there - with honesty, humility, and meaningful relationships.
For this reason, as a concrete aid to living this mission in digital media, the document “Incipe Iterum - Begin Again. OFM Guidelines for Presence in Digital Media” is available, which gives guidance to all friars and candidates on how to be present in digital media, based on Church teaching and Franciscan values. It is a practical and helpful guide in digital spaces for acting wisely and with purpose, both as recipient and as a content creator, in one’s personal or communal use. The goal is to encourage friars to take part in digital spaces and to think carefully about how they do so. Being present online should be seen as an important part of the Order’s mission, rather than an optional activity. Instead of giving strict rules, this document offers helpful resources for training and support.
The document emerged from a collaborative effort starting on September 20, 2024, guided by the General Definitory and following the 2021 Chapter Mandate. The Commission for Digital Media was created to convene friars and lay professionals who share our values, coming from various continents, integrating advanced academic expertise with practical experience in pastoral communications and media-driven evangelization. Through online meetings, drafts, and global validation and feedback, the guideline was shaped, approved, and shared by the General Definitory for use throughout the Order.
This guideline is not strict rules but a framework for reflection, discernment and decision-making. It sees the digital world as both a tool and a place where people meet, search for meaning, and form identity. Rooted in Franciscan tradition, Church teaching, and global experience, it encourages ethical, creative, and pastoral engagement - guiding and inspiring rather than controlling.
Let this document be an invitation to presence - a call to bring light, hope, and relational closeness to the digital world. May every friar, group, and lay partner begin - or begin again - with courage, hope, and faithfulness to the Gospel, trusting that even small acts of faith can leave a lasting impact.