Hyperconnected, yet excluded:

hope and mission in the legacy of Pope Francis, a Theological reading of the rupture of human communion in digital culture

Abstract

This article analyzes the contemporary paradox of a hyperconnected yet deeply exclusionary society, in which digital exclusion extends beyond the technological sphere and deepens social, cultural, and communal fractures. In light of John 17:20–23, particularly Jesus’ prayer for unity, the study understands communion as a theological and missionary criterion, now challenged by political, social, and ecclesial polarization intensified by digital cultures and algorithmic logics. In critical dialogue with the magisterium of Pope Francis — especially Evangelii Gaudium, Laudato Si’, Fratelli Tutti, Querida Amazonia, and Laudate Deum — the article interprets digital exclusion as a new missionary periphery, a contemporary expression of the culture of discard and false communication. Methodologically, it integrates biblical exegesis, sociocultural analysis, and technological ethics, incorporating empirical data on global digital exclusion. It argues that the Christian response does not lie in technocratic optimism, but in Christian hope, understood as a historical, eschatological, and transformative force. It concludes that Francis’ missionary legacy proposes an outgoing, synodal, and prophetic Church capable of rebuilding human communion through dialogue, critical digital inclusion, and care for the poor.