Alex Joseph Vadakumthala has been appointed as the Ecclesiastical Advisor of Jesus Youth International, marking an important step in his service to the global Church.

The bishop from Kerala has already been serving as the advisor to Jesus Youth India for the past six years. His new role at the international level is seen as a continuation of his strong involvement in guiding the movement’s spiritual and organisational growth.

He was appointed Bishop of Kannur in 2014 by Pope Francis. Before becoming a bishop, he served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Verapoly.

Born on June 14, 1959, in Maradu, he began his priestly training at St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Ernakulam and later studied philosophy and theology in Pune. He was ordained a priest in 1984.
In his early ministry, he served in parishes in Verapoly and Koonammavu. He later earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urban University in 1992.

He also served in the Pontifical Council for Health and worked with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India in health ministry. He has held several leadership roles, including President of the Canon Law Society of India.

His new appointment comes at a time when youth movements are playing a key role in the Church’s mission, especially in evangelisation and leadership formation worldwide.

Academicians, media profe-ssionals, and spiritual leaders gathered in Ghaziabad to discuss the role of journalism in building a better nation. The Fourth Na-tional Media Conference 2026, organised by NISCORT Media College in collaboration with Brahma Kumaris, focused on promoting “solution-based journalism.”

The theme of the conference was “Solution Based Media for a Prosperous Bharat.” Participants highlighted the need for media to move beyond only reporting problems and instead focus on solutions that bring hope, peace, and development.

Bishop Rayarala Vijaya Kumar stressed that journalists have a responsibility to be ethical and accurate. He said solution-based journalism helps present reality with hope and encourages critical thinking while protecting constitutional values. BK Sushant pointed out that many social problems come from a decline in human values. He said media with compassion can play an important role in improving society. Fr. Robinson Rodrigues said that in a world facing conflict and division, solution-based journalism can help bring peace and understanding. The conference included two sessions with 15 research paper presentations. Topics covered ethical reporting, digital media trends, and the positive impact of solution-focused stories. Ritu Dubey Tiwari said the event aimed to connect academic ideas with real media practice. She added that value-based journalism can strengthen democracy and help build a more hopeful and inclusive society.

The Catholic Bishops’ Con-ference of India has invited dio-ceses to celebrate the 60th World Day of Social Communications on May 17, 2026. Centered on Pope Leo XIV’s theme, “Pre-serving Human Voices and Faces,” the initiative emphasizes authentic human connection over mere information sharing.

The CBCI warns that while digital technology and artificial intelligence offer benefits, they must be used responsibly to prevent the ero-sion of personal relationships and critical thinking. Given India’s cultural diversity, the Church aims to foster truthful, inclusive dialogue and unity. Planned activities include special Eucharistic celebrations for media professionals, workshops on AI ethics, and youth competitions in digital content creation. By encouraging young people to become “digital missionaries,” the CBCI seeks to promote media ethics and combat fake news, reaffirming a commitment to compassionate communication in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.