Pope Leo XIV Meets Founder of ESNE Television to Discuss Evangelization and Migration
Pope Leo XIV recently welcomed Noel Díaz, founder of El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización, to his private office at the Vatican, marking an important moment for the Catholic media apostolate based in California. The meeting highlighted the growing role of lay-led evangelization initiatives that use television and radio to reach Spanish and English-speaking audiences across the Americas and Europe.
El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización, widely known as ESNE, operates a Catholic television network that broadcasts throughout Latin America and Spain. In addition, it oversees a large network of radio stations serving communities in the United States and Mexico. The ministry was founded in California and has developed into a significant platform for spreading Catholic teaching, prayer and pastoral content, particularly among Hispanic communities.
Noel Díaz, a Mexican immigrant to the United States, has long been active in promoting evangelization through media. During his meeting with Pope Leo XIV, he was accompanied by two priests and a lay representative from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The encounter provided an opportunity to present the mission of ESNE to the Pope and to reflect on the challenges of evangelization in contemporary society.
Among the gifts presented to the Holy Father was a symbolic replica of a shoeshine box. Díaz explained that, as a young boy facing economic hardship, he shined shoes to support himself and even saved enough to purchase the suit he wore for his First Communion. The box has become a personal emblem of perseverance and faith. A similar gesture in 2016 with Pope Francis marked the beginning of a close relationship between Díaz and the late Pontiff, who encouraged the apostolate’s media mission.
During the conversation with Pope Leo XIV, attention turned to the pastoral needs of migrants in the United States and around the world. Migration continues to shape the social and ecclesial landscape of many countries, and Catholic media platforms such as ESNE aim to offer spiritual support and formation to families navigating new cultural environments. The discussion also emphasized the importance of promoting deeper knowledge of Sacred Scripture and strengthening commitment to the Word of God.
For Pope Leo XIV, meetings with leaders of lay apostolates reflect the Church’s recognition of the vital role played by the laity in evangelization. Media initiatives like ESNE contribute to the Church’s mission by extending access to liturgy, catechesis and papal messages to communities that may otherwise feel distant from ecclesial life.
The encounter underscored the shared commitment between the Holy See and Catholic communicators to ensure that the message of the Gospel reaches diverse audiences across continents. Through television and radio outreach, El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización continues to serve as a bridge connecting faithful Catholics with the universal Church.
