With the prayer dance Roohaye Roohaye by the youth of the Salesian Sisters and the lighting of the traditional lamp by dignitaries, Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, Shri Derek O'Brien, Member of Parliament, and two participants illumined the conference, organized by the Salesian Communication Department in Rome and India, and in collaboration with the Vatican Dicastery for Communication.

Father Ernest Rosario, the South Asia Delegate for Social Communication, welcomed the attendees to embrace the theme of "Nurturing Digital Wellness" and be guiding lights in the digital realm. Complementing the theme of the conference, the students of St. John's College of Nursing performed a dance sequence on The Digital Compass—Guiding the Sea of Connections.

Father Harris Pakkam, Director of the Salesian News Agency, articulated the purpose of Illuminaire 2024 in his speech: to enlighten, enrich, and illumine the digital journey. He hoped that Illuminaire would serve as a platform to network, learn, and enrich the priests and religious leaders from across India.

In his address, Most Rev. Peter Machado offered a thought-provoking perspective on engaging with the digital realm, stating, "We need to proclaim the Word from the laptop." He outlined four essential strategies for effective digital engagement: awareness of the digital landscape, critical analysis of content, fostering digital dialogue, and promoting digital solutions to reduce online pollution.

Father Gildásio Mendes, the General Councillor for Communication, linked the conference's objectives to Pope Francis' vision of being missionaries in the digital world. He emphasized the need for collaboration in the Church's mission. He presented four symbolic garden images representing faith and mission: the Garden of Creation, the Garden of Passion, the Garden of Resurrection, and the Garden of Redemption.

In his keynote address, Dr. Paolo Ruffini, the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, called for a humane approach to digital communication. He stressed the importance of storytelling in an increasingly chaotic digital environment and invoked Pope Francis' encouragement, urging participants to embrace their roles as active navigators in the digital ocean.

Father Jesudoss Rajamanickam, Director of St. John's Medical College, provided an overview of the institution and reminded everyone of Pope Francis' call to be mindful of what we watch and share. Fr. C.M. Paul expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their support.

Father Jose Koyickal, Provincial of the Salesian Province of Bangalore, proposed the vote of thanks, highlighting the unique opportunities available to participants during the two-day conference.

The inaugural programme concluded with the official unveiling of its logo, Illuminaire 2024. The speakers' input sessions, workshops, and collaborative discussions engaged the participants for the rest of the day.