Father Godwin Chinedu Adike from the Apostolic Nunciature to Myanmar met with participants of the Myanmar RVA Language Services training on September 30, 2026, sharing practical guidance on communication and the mission of Radio Veritas Asia.

Fr. Godwin told the Myanmar RVA communicators that they meet people across geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries, and that their work can help create relationships and mutual understanding among people who may live far apart or have different backgrounds. He described this human encounter as an important part of the Church’s media mission, saying every message should help people feel valued, understood, and connected to others.

‘Come and See’: The Invitation to Encounter

Fr. Godwin explained that communication begins with meeting people and listening to them. Referring to John 1:46, he highlighted Philip’s invitation to Nathanael: “Come and see.” He explained that Philip did not argue with Nathanael or force him to accept an opinion. Instead, he invited him to encounter and discover for himself.

He encouraged RVA staff to listen carefully to people’s stories before asking questions. He referred to Pope Francis’ 2022 message for the World Day of Social Communications, which emphasized that “listening is a condition for genuine dialogue.” He said this is especially important in Asia because Asian people have different languages, cultures, religions, and histories.

‘Building Bridges of Understanding’

Fr. Godwin said RVA’s mission is more than translating words from one language into another.

“The task of Radio Veritas Asia is to build bridges of understanding among Asian people,” he said. Language, he explained, helps people enter another person’s world and understand their experiences.

He also stressed that communication must be truthful while protecting human dignity. He encouraged communicators to ask themselves important questions: “Is what I’m saying true? Is it necessary? Is it responsible? Does the way I communicate it respect the dignity of the other person?”

He said professional competence is important, but competence must be guided by conscience and wisdom. “A communicator must not only know what to say, but also how to say it,” he said, reminding participants that words can affect people deeply.

Communication That Speaks to the Heart

Fr. Godwin emphasized communication that speaks to the heart. Sharing from his experience, he said, “People may forget our words, but they often remember how our words made them feel.” He explained that communication can create human connection through a story, a carefully chosen word, humor, or even silence.

He encouraged the participants to listen with understanding and sympathy. From a pastoral perspective, he said communication can create spaces where people meet, listen, and understand one another.

‘The Human Person Always Remains at the Center’

Fr. Godwin reminded the participants that technology should never replace the human person. Referring to Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 message for the World Day of Social Communications, he said the challenge of artificial intelligence is ultimately “an anthropological question.” Digital technology can translate, generate, and distribute information quickly, but “the human person always remains at the center.”

He highlighted RVA’s distinctive mission: “Radio Veritas Asia crosses geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries, and gives people the assurance that their language, culture, and story matter.” He added that communication requires “humility, accuracy, respect, and love.”

‘Listen Before Judging, Verify Before Publishing’

In conclusion, Fr. Godwin encouraged the new Myanmar RVA Language Services members to develop both professional skills and personal character. He urged them to “listen before judging, verify before publishing, understand before interpreting, and seek truth without humiliating others.”

He reminded them that behind every statistic is a human life, behind every story is a human experience, and behind every listener is a person with hopes, fears, and dreams. Therefore, he encouraged RVA communicators to make every listener feel “seen, heard, respected, and not alone.”

The training session provided Myanmar RVA staff with both practical communication skills and a deeper understanding of their mission as Catholic media workers—not merely conveyors of information, but builders of bridges, listeners with compassion, and voices of hope for people across Asia.

By RVA Hakha Chin Service