As part of a four-day series of meetings and activities, on October 24th, colleagues and supporters from across Europe came together at the Vatican for the EWTN European Pilgrimage and Conference to discuss the network’s current path in Europe and the opportunities that lie ahead.  

Opening the conference, EWTN CEO Michael Warsaw reflected on the network’s growth and presented EWTN Next, a roadmap for the future rooted in the mission’s enduring values. Warsaw also shared with the attendees his vision for how EWTN will continue to serve the Church worldwide. 

“Our commitment as we move forward,” he said, “our vision as we move forward, is to create the best content in the Catholic world, distributed on world-class platforms and with a team of the very, very best people and partners that anyone could look for. And we believe now more than ever that the content we produce, the stories we tell, transform lives, and through that transformation will change the world.”

He continued, “That’s our goal. That’s our vision. That’s our intent. But it’s not just a vision for America, although we have launched these products and these platforms in America, but it is a global vision to bring this mission to every corner of the world while respecting and understanding the different realities of the media landscape in different countries.” 

The discussion was joined by Andreas Thonhauser, Vice President and Chief Global Officer of EWTN, who reflected on how crucial it is to operate in unity in today’s interconnected world. He noted that working together not only fosters cooperation but also significantly enhances the chances of being heard worldwide.

“The time for doing everything by oneself, even only country by country, is over,” he asserted. “There is beauty in thinking together on an international level. And then everybody will have to do their thing locally. Mother Teresa always said, and I really like this: “What I can do, you cannot do. And what you can do, I cannot do. But together, we can do something beautiful for God” I think this is something we can also take with us.”

Following the Q&A session, which allowed participants to exchange thoughts and reflections on their work and mission, the conference continued with first-hand testimonies from EWTN’s international staff, who spoke on stage about their experiences and meaningful moments of their journey with the network. 

Among those present was Pål Nes, Editor-in-Chief of EWTN Norway, who, through partnerships with EWTN Vatican and EWTN Germany, brought a historic report of the Conclave events to Norway: 

“Imagine coming from Norway, one of the most secular countries in the world, where people hate God and we don’t talk about Jesus. We called Andreas and said, can I get a bed? And then I called Martin and said, maybe we can borrow your sets because I don’t have a cameraman and I don’t have a budget for a video editor. So maybe we can get some help. And they both said yes. And that made us come to Rome. For the first time in the history of Norwegian broadcasting, we were doing transmission from Rome during a conclave. When I came home from the conclave, the local football team on the island where I live, in the break of the football match, they asked me to come to the center of the field and talk about how the conclave was. And before we came there, there have never been any Catholics there. And they were all, the 42 people who were there, were sitting and listening and asking me questions in the halftime of a football match on how it was to be in Rome when the Pope was elected.” 

Before making their way to St. Peter’s Basilica to pass through the Holy Door, the group attended Mass at the Church of Santa Maria della Pietà as part of the EWTN European Pilgrimage and Conference. Celebrated by Father John Paul, MFVA, the Mass offered a meaningful moment to reflect on the purpose of EWTN’s mission, while also inspiring participants to carry forward the dedication and faith that have guided the network since its founding.

Adapted by Jacob Stein. Produced by Alexey Gotovskiy; Camera by Alberto Basile and Fabio Gonnella