Radio Veritas Asia honours young journalists, launches commemorative book

Vatican News

On January 30, Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) held an online event that united Asian filmmakers, Church communicators, environmental advocates, theologians, and bishops, combining the Laudato Si’ Care for Creation Short Film Contest Awards with the launch of the commemorative book Voices for Our Common Home.

The Short Film Contest was part of a year-long campaign launched by RVA in response to a pastoral letter from the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). This campaign commemorated the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’.

Announced in early September 2025, the contest invited storytellers from Asia and beyond to submit original films, three to five minutes long, focused on caring for our common home and the impact of Laudato si’ in Asia.

Over 80 filmmakers submitted entries, leading the judges to conduct a careful screening process. An international panel of judges selected thirteen finalists, including ten consolation awardees and three top-prize winners.

Fr. John Mi Shen, Programme Director of RVA and Executive Secretary of the Office of Social Communication of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC–OSC), welcomed participants and said the occasion was more than just a ceremony.

He spoke about the vision of Laudato si’ and stressed that caring for creation is a key part of Christian discipleship. “Through this short film contest, we have witnessed how young communicators across Asia are responding creatively to the call to ecological conversion,” he said. “Their stories awaken conscience, nurture compassion, and inspire responsible action.”

Dr. Natasa Govekar of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication (our parent organization) sent a congratulatory message. She praised RVA for keeping the spirit of Laudato si’ alive in a time shaped by artificial intelligence and digital media.

She reminded everyone that humanity both protects creation and is protected by it. Referring to Pope Leo XIV’s World Communications Day message, she stressed the need to protect real human faces and voices, warning that excessive reliance on screens can disconnect people from nature.

A commemorative book for “a common home”

One of the main highlights was the presentation and official launch of the commemorative book, Voices for Our Common Home: Laudato Si’ in Asia. Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, President of Caritas Philippines, formally launched the book.

“The voices recorded in this book are not only a testimony to the impact of Laudato si’ on Asia, but also a reminder of the urgency of caring for our common home,” Bishop Alminaza said.

He added that the Church “cannot afford to wait” to respond to the ecological crisis and hoped the book would raise awareness and encourage people to act together.

Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching, Malaysia, who is also Chairman of the Office of Evangelization, congratulated the young filmmakers and said they represent the “now” of the Church. He contributed an article to “Voices for Our Common Home” and stressed the urgent need to preserve and share ancestral wisdom, a key concern in Laudato si’.

The event ended with the announcement and screening of the top three prize-winning films.

The first prize went to “Love in Action” from Thailand, announced by Fr. Felmar Fiel, General Manager of RVA.

All three winning films were shown during the ceremony. The filmmakers then gave short messages, thanked RVA, and shared how Laudato Si’ inspired their creative work on environmental issues.

In his closing remarks, Fr. Fiel thanked the filmmakers, judges, book contributors, bishops, and partners for working together. He ended the event with a prayer and blessing, entrusting Asia’s ecological mission to God.

This dual celebration showed RVA’s ongoing commitment to supporting Asian voices and encouraging faith-based care for the environment, ten years after Laudato si’ called the world to care for “our common home.”