At the start of last year’s Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis encouraged participants to “fast from public words.” It was an unusual request: For years, millions of Catholics from around the world had invested in the global synod process, sharing their hopes, fears and aspirations for the future of the church. Did the pope’s words mean that they were effectively shut off of the room?
This 60-minute virtual course, which will take place in the midst of the second session of the Synod on Synodality, will examine the communication dynamics at the synod and how to tell the story of the synod, even when it’s complicated.
About the Instructor
Christopher White is the Vatican correspondent for NCR. His e-mail address is cwhite@ncronline.org. Follow him on Twitter: @cwwhiteNCR.
Prior to moving to Rome in August 2021, he served as NCR’s national correspondent, where his award winning reporting included coverage of the Catholic vote during the 2020 campaign and the election of President Joe Biden.
He holds a master’s degree in ethics and society from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy and economics from The King’s College. His work has appeared in Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Forbes, Foreign Policy, New York Daily News, International Business Times, among many other print and online publications. He has regularly appeared on television and radio programs, including CNN, NPR, RTE and BBC and is a Vatican analyst for NBC and MSNBC news.