Anthony Johnson, a co-founder and program director of the EWTN Summer Academy, emphasized the importance of training young journalists at the academy to respond to the pope\u2019s call.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe as journalists need to be peacemakers first, because the truth is what is ultimately going to set us free,\u201d Johnson told EWTN News.<\/p>\n
Johnson also explained the academy\u2019s aims and its connection to the vision of Mother Angelica, who founded the EWTN Global Catholic Network in 1981.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the academy here, we\u2019re bringing in people from all around the world \u2014 43 people from 26 countries more or less \u2014 and we put them in small groups from all different continents, and we put them through these exercises with the goal of finishing a final project at the very end of the academy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe expect people to be 100% bought into the mission [of proclaiming Jesus Christ]. Mother Angelica knew it. I think people today know it, and our audience can tell from a mile away,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n In service of the truth<\/p>\n The academy participants were taught by Vatican journalists, clergy, producers, and art historians about the fundamentals of Catholic journalism.<\/p>\n Several of those participants reflected on this experience as a service to truth. One of those was Jon\u00e9l Roos from South Africa, a religious educator and a convert to Catholicism.<\/p>\n \u201cI think [this program] is of the utmost importance because it gives people the tools necessary to grow in their faith and also in order to grow within their professions,\u201d Roos told EWTN News. \u201cThe whole point of all of this is to convey truth to people and to allow people to be guided towards the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n George Cuesta, a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas, added: \u201cI think forming young Catholic creators in [the journalistic] realm is extremely important because that\u02bcs really the language that the faithful are using to communicate with each other, to consume media, whether entertainment or education.\u201d<\/p>\n An experience in the Eternal City through the eyes of faith<\/p>\n Several participants reflected on the importance of learning about Catholic journalism in Rome.<\/p>\n Ana Bel\u00e9n Hurtado, a communications professional from Ecuador, described her time in Rome as faith-filled.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing here in the heart of the Church makes it a whole new level for us. Having the amazing view [of St. Peter\u2019s Square] every day definitely makes you aware of the history and the whole legacy that we have received through the gift of faith,\u201d Hurtado said.<\/p>\n![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Copy-of-VATICANO-Thumbnails-4-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Anthony Johnson, a co-founder and program director of the EWTN Summer Academy, speaks at the academy in Rome on June 23, 2026. | Credit: Lemmy Ogbonnaya Ijioma\/EWTN Summer Academy<\/p>\n![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Copy-of-VATICANO-Thumbnails-1-2-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Jacob Stein, founder of social media apostolate Crux Stationalis and a digital media analyst for EWTN News, gives a lesson on social media to the EWTN Summer Academy in Rome on June 23, 2026. | Credit: Lemmy Ogbonnaya Ijioma\/EWTN Summer Academy<\/p>\n
![\"EWTN](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Copy-of-VATICANO-Thumbnails-2-1-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>EWTN Summer Academy 2026 participants and guests at the academy\u2019s opening reception at the Centro Internazionale di Animazione Missionaria (CIAM) on the campus of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on June 22, 2026. | Credit: Lemmy Ogbonnaya Ijioma\/EWTN Summer Academy<\/p>\n