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COMMUNICARE CHRISTI - Year I, Issue N°3

COMMUNICARE CHRISTI

Communication & Evangelization

Year I, Issue N°3 - August 2025

Hopetelling: Telling Stories of Hope

Telling hope means seeing hidden crumbs of good even when all seems lost
Pope Francis, Jubilee of Communication, January 25, 2025

🇬🇧 ENGLISH

Dear communicator sisters,

Pope Francis, in his last great speech before his death, left us a precious legacy: the concept of "hopetelling". No longer simple storytelling, but narrative that generates hope. No longer narratives that only inform, but stories that transform the heart of those who listen.

"Let your storytelling also be hopetelling," the Holy Father exhorted us. "When you tell about evil, leave space for the possibility of mending what is torn, for the dynamism of good that can repair what is broken. Sow questions."

But what exactly is hopetelling? It's the art of telling stories that, while not hiding the reality of evil and pain, know how to "notice the sprouts that emerge when the earth is still covered with ashes". It's journalism that doesn't limit itself to describing what is, but helps imagine what could be.

During the XVI Seminar "Communication & Evangelization," Don Fabio Rosini showed us a concrete example of hopetelling: his way of presenting the commandments not as prohibitions, but as "beauties to discover". Instead of saying "don't kill," he shows the beauty of giving life. Instead of "don't steal," he tells the joy of generosity.

This month we explore how to transform our communication from simple chronicle to instrument of spiritual and social regeneration. How every story we tell can become a seed of hope in the heart of those who receive it.

Hopetelling is not naivety or sweetening of reality. It's "having a gaze that transforms things, makes them become what they could, what they should be" (Pope Francis). It's the courage to see beyond the present toward the possible.

🇮🇹 ITALIANO

Cari sorelle comunicatrice,

Papa Francesco, nel suo ultimo grande discorso prima della morte, ci ha lasciato un'eredità preziosa: il concetto di "hopetelling". Non più semplice storytelling, ma racconto che genera speranza. Non più narrazioni che informano soltanto, ma storie che trasformano il cuore di chi ascolta.

"Il vostro storytelling sia anche hopetelling", ci ha esortato il Santo Padre. "Quando raccontate il male, lasciate spazio alla possibilità di ricucire ciò che è strappato, al dinamismo di bene che può riparare ciò che è rotto. Seminate interrogativi."

Ma cos'è esattamente l'hopetelling? È l'arte di raccontare storie che, pur non nascondendo la realtà del male e del dolore, sanno "accorgersi dei germogli che spuntano quando la terra è ancora coperta dalle ceneri". È un giornalismo che non si limita a descrivere ciò che è, ma aiuta a immaginare ciò che potrebbe essere.

Durante il XVI Seminario "Comunicazione & Evangelizzazione", Don Fabio Rosini ci ha mostrato un esempio concreto di hopetelling: il suo modo di presentare i comandamenti non come divieti, ma come "bellezze da far scoprire". Invece di dire "non uccidere", mostra la bellezza del dare vita. Invece di "non rubare", racconta la gioia della generosità.

L'hopetelling non è ingenuità o edulcorazione della realtà. È "avere uno sguardo che trasforma le cose, le fa diventare ciò che potrebbero, che dovrebbero essere" (Papa Francesco). È il coraggio di vedere oltre il presente verso il possibile.

📖 ️Scarica il pdf bilingue

The Three Levels of Hopetelling

Based on pontifical documents and Seminar presentations, we identify three levels of depth in hopetelling:

1
SEEING (Hope in the Eyes)
Telling hope means noticing the sprouts
Pope Francis

Characteristics:

  • Attention to positive detail even in the most dramatic stories
  • Focus on people who respond to evil with good
  • Highlight human and community resilience
  • Always seek "the angel in the story" - who helps, who saves, who resists
Practical Example: In telling about war, not only deaths and destruction, but also doctors who treat everyone, children who continue to play, mothers who protect others' children.
2
SOWING (Hope in Questions)
Sow questions
Pope Francis

Characteristics:

  • Ask questions that open possibilities instead of closing in diagnoses
  • Stimulate reflection on possible alternatives
  • Involve the reader in searching for solutions
  • Transform indignation into constructive energy
Practical Example: Instead of concluding "Poverty is inevitable," ask: "What would happen if every person took one small action against poverty?"
3
TRANSFORMING (Hope in Action)
Make things walk toward their destiny
Pope Francis

Characteristics:

  • Inspire concrete actions in readers/listeners
  • Connect local stories to global movements of change
  • Show participation paths accessible to all
  • Celebrate transformations already underway
Practical Example: Not only tell about an environmental problem, but also the initiatives solving it and how readers can join.

Global Masters of Hopetelling

📰 CASE 1: Constructive News - Denmark

The "Constructive News" movement revolutionized Danish journalism by unconsciously applying hopetelling principles:

Method:

  • 50/50 Rule: For every problem, at least one proposed solution
  • Focus on "solvers": Who is already successfully addressing the problem?
  • Generative questions: "How can we..." instead of "Why can't we..."
  • Hope metrics: Measure positive impact of stories
Results: +35% engagement, +50% reading time, -20% anxiety in regular readers.

🌟 CASE 2: Positive News - United Kingdom

Magazine entirely dedicated to "stories that matter": solutions, innovations, human progress.

Hopetelling Strategy:

  • Each thematic issue (e.g. "How the world is beating poverty")
  • Stories of "invisible heroes" - ordinary people making a difference
  • "Be the change" section - concrete actions for readers
  • Partnerships with NGOs to verify story impact
Lesson: "We don't hide problems, we tell them through those solving them."

✝️ CASE 3: Famiglia Cristiana - "Stories of Resurrection"

The historic Italian magazine developed a section dedicated to Christian hopetelling:

Distinctive Elements:

  • Testimonies of conversion and social redemption
  • Focus on "second chances" - no one is lost forever
  • Daily Easter - stories of death and resurrection in normal life
  • Parish involvement to report local stories
Impact: The section became the magazine's most read, generating hundreds of hope letters.

The H.O.P.E. Method for Hopetelling

We transform Pope Francis's principles into a practical method for journalists and communicators:

H

HEART (Change Perspective)

  • Before writing, stop 5 minutes in silence
  • Ask yourself: "Where are the signs of life in this story?"
  • Seek at least 3 positive elements even in the most dramatic news
O

OTHERS (Focus on Protagonists of Good)

  • Identify who is reacting positively to the situation
  • Give name and face to the "angels of the story"
  • Tell their deep motivations
P

PEOPLE (Touch the Heart)

  • Not just facts, but authentic feelings
  • Make people cry from emotion, not only from pain
  • Transmit the beauty of humanity that resists
E

EMPOWERMENT (Show Strength)

  • How do people overcome difficulties?
  • What internal resources have they discovered?
  • How does the community unite in difficult moments?
  • What concrete actions can readers take?
  • How to transform emotion into commitment?

✅ Hopetelling Checklist

"From Pain to Hope: My Conversion to Hopetelling"

🎤 Interview with Maria Santos, Brazilian journalist specializing in favelas

"For years I only told about violence, drugs, death in Rio's favelas. I thought it was my duty to show the 'raw truth'. But after participating in a retreat with Don Fabio Rosini, I understood I was telling only half the truth."
"I started looking for the 'crumbs of good' Pope Francis talks about. And I found them everywhere: mothers transforming their homes into schools, ex-dealers becoming educators, children dreaming of a different future."
"The turning point came with the story of Dona Carmen, 70, who transformed a dump into a community garden. Instead of focusing on the garbage, I told how flowers were being born. Instead of interviewing only criminals, I gave voice to those sowing beauty."
"Now my stories have a different impact. They don't just denounce, but inspire. I've received hundreds of messages from people who started similar projects in their communities."
"Hopetelling doesn't mean ignoring evil, but telling it through the eyes of those already defeating it. As Pope Francis says: 'Make things walk toward their destiny'. The destiny of favelas is not violence, but life. Our job is to tell that life already sprouting."
Maria Santos Method:
• "The three gazes": Problem → Who faces it → How I can help
• "The balance rule": For every interview with a "problem," two with a "solution"
• "Hope follow-up": Return six months later to see evolution

Regular Sections

👑 THE WORD OF THE POPES

This is the power of stories. And this is what I encourage you to do: tell hope, share it. This is – as Saint Paul would say – your 'good fight'
Pope Francis, January 25, 2025
Let your storytelling also be hopetelling. When you tell about evil, leave space for the possibility of mending what is torn
Pope Francis, January 25, 2025

🌟 HOPETELLING CORNER

The Journalist Who Transformed Genocide into Reconciliation

Immaculée Ilibagiza, Rwandan genocide survivor, became a journalist to tell not only horror, but especially forgiveness. Her stories of reconciliation between victims and perpetrators have inspired peace programs worldwide.

The Radio that Unites South Sudan

Radio Emmanuel broadcasts in 17 local languages and has helped reduce tribal conflicts through programs that value all cultures of the country, focusing on shared traditions and common hopes.

Hope in War Zones

During the Ukraine conflict, journalist Olga Rudenko pioneered "hope reporting" - every war story includes at least one element of human resilience, community solidarity, or reconstruction efforts.

🕊️ DISARMED COMMUNICATION

The "Solutions Journalism" Method

The Solutions Journalism Network has trained over 10,000 journalists worldwide in the art of telling not only problems, but also answers. Their motto: "Journalism that makes a difference is the one that shows how difference can be made."

Key Principles:

  • Response focus: How are people addressing the problem?
  • Evidence: What's the evidence of impact?
  • Insight: What can we learn from this approach?
  • Limitations: What are the caveats and shortcomings?

🎯 WITNESSES OF TRUTH

Hopetelling Heroes: Journalists Who Changed Narratives

Krista Tippett (USA): "On Being" podcast transformed how Americans discuss faith, meaning, and hope across cultural divides.

Aryn Baker (TIME): Middle East correspondent who consistently finds stories of hope amid conflict, showing human dignity in the darkest circumstances.

Sebastião Salgado (Brazil): Photographer whose "Genesis" project showed Earth's beauty after decades documenting human suffering.

Prayer: "Lord, help us see with your eyes the seeds of hope you plant in every human story."

🤖 TECH & DISCERNMENT

AI for Hopetelling

How to use artificial intelligence ethically to amplify hope?

  • Content Analysis: AI can identify positive elements in stories journalists might miss
  • Solution Mapping: AI can connect local problems to global solutions
  • Impact Tracking: AI can measure long-term effects of hopeful stories
  • Community Building: AI can connect readers with action opportunities

ChatGPT Prompt for Hopetelling:

"Help me rewrite this story using the HOPE method: focus on the Heart (human dignity), Others (helpers), People (emotional connection), and Empowerment (possible actions). Add questions that inspire rather than diagnose."

🎓 COMBONIAN COURSES

Courses for Hopetelling:

  • "Narrating Charism" - Transform missionary history into storytelling of hope
  • "CommuniCrisis" - Find light even in the most difficult situations
  • "Missionary Videomaking" - Audiovisual techniques to tell hope
  • "Navigating Together" - Digital communication for contemporary religious life
  • "Hopetelling Masterclass" - Advanced techniques for narrative transformation
🌱 Plant seeds of hope

🌍 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Hopetelling Around the World

Colombia: After the peace process, journalists practice "periodismo de esperanza" - hope journalism that shows former combatants becoming community leaders, victims becoming peace builders.

Kenya: Nation Media Group launched "Solutions Desk" - every major problem story must be paired with a solutions piece showing who's addressing similar challenges successfully.

India: The "Positive News India" movement focuses on grassroots innovations, showing how ordinary Indians solve extraordinary problems with limited resources.

Nigeria: Christian and Muslim journalists collaborate on "Hope Bridge" stories - narratives that show interfaith cooperation and shared humanity beyond religious divisions.

Philippines: After natural disasters, Filipino journalists practice "resilience reporting" - showing how communities rebuild stronger, not just documenting destruction.

Universal Truth: In every culture, hopetelling works because it connects to the deepest human longing for meaning, purpose, and possibility. It's not cultural optimism - it's spiritual truth.

📚 HOPETELLING LIBRARY

Essential Reading for Hope Communicators

Foundational Texts:

  • "Gaudete et Exsultate" - Pope Francis (Joy and holiness in storytelling)
  • "Spe Salvi" - Pope Benedict XVI (The theology of hope)
  • "Deus Caritas Est" - Pope Benedict XVI (Love as the foundation of communication)

Practical Guides:

  • "Solutions Journalism: The Handbook" - Tina Rosenberg
  • "The Power of Positive News" - Geri Weis-Corbley
  • "Constructive News: How to Save Media and Democracy" - Ulrik Haagerup
  • "The Hope Circuit" - Martin Seligman (Psychology of hope)

Spiritual Resources:

  • "The Prophet" - Kahlil Gibran
  • "Man's Search for Meaning" - Viktor Frankl
  • "The Hiding Place" - Corrie ten Boom
  • "Testimonios de Esperanza" - Latin American liberation theologians

📊 HOPETELLING METRICS

How to Measure the Impact of Hope

Traditional Metrics + Hope Indicators:

  • Engagement: Not just clicks, but time spent and shares with personal messages
  • Emotional Response: Comments expressing inspiration vs. despair
  • Action Generated: Readers who contact organizations mentioned in stories
  • Community Building: Stories that spark local initiatives
  • Long-term Impact: Follow-up stories showing sustained change

The "Hope Quotient" Formula:

Hope Quotient = (Positive Actions Inspired + Questions Asked + Solutions Shared) ÷ Total Reach

Qualitative Indicators:

  • Reader testimonies of changed perspectives
  • Requests for more solution-focused coverage
  • Increased volunteer engagement with featured organizations
  • Cross-cultural dialogue sparked by universal themes

📅 NEXT ISSUE PREVIEW - SEPTEMBER 2025

"Disarmed Communication: Beyond the Tower of Babel"

We will delve into Pope Leo XIV's call for a "disarmed and disarming communication". How to overcome "the confusion of languages without love, ideological or factious" and create "human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue".

We don't need thunderous, muscular communication, but rather communication capable of listening, of gathering the voice of the weak who have no voice
Pope Leo XIV, May 12, 2025

Featured content:

  • Theoretical Focus: The linguistics of peace vs. the language of war
  • Case Studies: Journalists who transformed hostile environments into dialogue spaces
  • Tools: The "Bridge Method" for communicating across divides
  • Testimonies: Communicators working in polarized societies
  • Tech & Discernment: AI algorithms that promote understanding vs. division
  • Global Perspective: Interfaith communication initiatives worldwide

Special Features:

  • Exclusive interview with Mons. Luccio Ruiz on digital mission
  • Case study: How Vatican News practices disarmed communication
  • Workshop guide: "From Polarization to Dialogue in 7 Steps"

📧 JOIN THE HOPETELLING MOVEMENT

How to Receive and Contribute to COMMUNICARE CHRISTI

Free Subscription:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • WhatsApp: +39 06 XXX XXXX
  • Website: centrocomunicazionecomboniane.org/hopetelling

Share Your Hopetelling Stories:

  • 📧 Email: [email protected]
  • 📱 WhatsApp: +39 06 XXX XXXX (voice messages welcome)
  • 🎥 Video testimonies: upload to communicarechristi.org/share
  • 📝 Written submissions: max 500 words, focus on transformation

Hopetelling Challenge:

We invite readers to submit one hopetelling story per month. Best submissions will be featured in future issues. Criteria: authentic transformation, replicable method, universal hope.

Follow the Movement:

  • 🌍 Facebook: @CommunicareChristiHope
  • 📸 Instagram: @hopetelling_official
  • 💼 LinkedIn: Communicare Christi Network
  • 🎬 YouTube: Hopetelling Stories Channel
  • 🎵 TikTok: @hopetelling (yes, even there!)

COMMUNICARE CHRISTI - Bilingual Training Bulletin

© 2025 Centro Comunicazione Comboniane. All rights reserved.

Based on contents from the XVI Seminar "Communication & Evangelization" - Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

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