The «Sixth Continent» Gathers in Central America: Acts 29 and the Vanguard of Digital Mission

The «sixth continent» is no longer just a metaphor; it has become an inescapable pastoral reality. It is not merely a collection of technological tools, but a lived space where millions of people—especially young people—seek answers to their existential questions and form relationships. 

For the Church, engaging with this environment is not a secondary strategic option, but rather a requirement of its evangelizing mission. In this context of digital acceleration, there emerges Acts 29, the world's most important international gathering of digital missionaries and Catholic content creators—a space where faith and digital culture come together to build communion.

The very name of the gathering holds a profound theological significance. The biblical book of the Acts of the Apostles ends abruptly in chapter 28, leaving the narrative of the early spread of Christianity on a cliffhanger. «Acts 29» thus symbolizes the chapter that the Church continues to write today under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of adding a page to Revelation, but of embracing the historical continuity of the apostolic mission: today’s content creators are the new evangelizers called to travel the information superhighways, bringing the first proclamation to the far reaches of the internet.

Costa Rica as a Global Hub

For its 2026 edition, Hechos 29 is coming to Central America for the first time, choosing Costa Rica as the host country from August 18 to 23. The event will bring together more than 100 content creators, priests, nuns, musicians, and podcasters from some twenty countries, including Italy, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina.

Far from being a traditional conference, this event is conceived as a profound experience of fellowship and a vivid snapshot of the Church on mission.

The movement’s history shows organic growth since its founding in 2021 in Monterrey, Mexico. That first edition, launched in the midst of the pandemic and held virtually, brought together 45 pioneers. By 2022, Pope Francis had already sent a video message encouraging them to evangelize creatively. After its stop in Bogotá in 2024, the movement reached a milestone in 2025 by participating in the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries in Rome, where they received the exhortation to «mend the nets»—an invitation from the Successor of Peter to heal the digital fabric by promoting closeness and truth.

Disciples Before ‘Influencers’

The spirit of Hechos 29 is perfectly summed up by its general director, Father José Juan Montalvo («Father Borre»): «We do not seek quantity, but fellowship.» In an environment often dominated by the tyranny of algorithms and the competition for reach, this gathering subverts the logic of the world. 

The premise that unites these creators is clear: before being influencers, are disciples. The success of the digital mission is not measured by a video’s metrics, but by the authenticity of the testimony and the ability to accompany people through profound personal journeys, transforming screens into bridges for a genuine encounter with Jesus Christ.

Hope for the region

The event enjoys strong institutional support: the Archdiocese of San José, the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, CELAM, and the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See all support the initiative. Church leaders such as Monsignor Lucio Ruiz, who will remain secretary of that Dicastery through September, will offer a perspective on the universal Church, reminding us that this task lies at the very heart of the Church today. 

The program will combine days of spiritual retreat and closed-door training—during which participants will share their pastoral successes and challenges—with a large Digital Mission Festival open to the public on August 23.

In Central America, where Catholicism accounts for just 32.6% of the region’s religious affiliation, Acts 29 stands as a beacon of hope. It reminds us that the Gospel also spreads through social media and that virtual spaces are fertile ground where the seed of grace can take root. 

Behind every Catholic account there is a story and a heart that prays; through this international network, the Church shows that it is willing to go the extra mile on the sixth continent, inhabiting the digital peripheries not merely as communication specialists, but as authentic and approachable witnesses to God’s love.