On October 24, 2014 the official ceremony for the consignment of the Decree of erection of the International Association SIGNIS took place on the premises of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The President of the association and the staff were present together with the Superiors of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication.

SIGNIS is an international association, born in 2001, from the fusion of two associations who had already received wide approvals and recognition from the Holy See (International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisuals, and International Office for Catholic Radio).

In order to efficaciously offer her contribution to culture, evangelization today has to include all means of communication. In this field the role of lay faithful is irreplaceable. In fact, «The first Areopagus of the modern age is the world of communications» (Redemptoris Missio, 37): it is necessary that those Christians who have access to the “New Areopaguses” be able to give voice to their ideas, and for this reason operators in the field should be adequately and effectively prepared.

Card. Stanisław Ryłko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, in his address, pronounced during the ceremony, stressed: “SIGNIS is called to form lay Catholics who work in the media to be truly salt and light, and to be a leaven that transforms the world from within. Your Christian witness is important for the Church and for the world. The Church needs this, and counts on you as part of its mission of evangelising the world of today”.