The Archbishop of Kigali and President of the Rwanda Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, has expressed deep concern over what he described as a growing global trend in which individuals choose to change their gender and advocate for same-sex marriage, warning that such developments reflect a broader crisis of truth in modern society.

He made the remarks on the evening of Friday, May 1, 2026, during a dialogue session that brought together Catholic leaders and social media influencers under the theme “Catholic Influencers Connect,” held at Sainte Famille Hotel in Kigali.

Speaking at the event, Cardinal Kambanda said today’s world is increasingly marked by confusion between truth and falsehood, fueled in part by the rapid expansion of technology and social media platforms.

“Today we find ourselves in a world full of noise, both constructive and destructive,” he said. “Technology is advancing at a tremendous speed, and one may even think that truth and direction no longer exist in this world.”

He went on to criticize the way foundational institutions such as marriage are being redefined, noting that some people now approach marriage as a “deal” or “contract,” a shift he said signals the erosion of core values.

Addressing issues of gender identity, the Cardinal questioned the notion of individuals altering their biological sex, suggesting it implies a rejection of divine creation.

“There are situations where a person chooses to change their gender, a man becoming a woman or a woman becoming a man, as if God made a mistake in creating them, or as if they alone determine what they are,” he said. “Even marriage has become like a business, a deal, a contract, to the extent that same-sex couples now claim it as a right. It is a world where recognizing truth becomes difficult.”

Cardinal Kambanda also highlighted the role of social media in spreading misinformation, warning that repeated falsehoods can easily be accepted as truth by the public.

“A person can take a lie, promote it on social media, and many will accept it without verification,” he said. “It ends up being treated as truth, believed and even ‘voted for’ by many, while actual truth fades away.”

He concluded by emphasizing that abandoning God leads to moral relativism, where individuals define their own version of truth, making it increasingly difficult for society to find common ground.

“When people turn away from God, they lose a shared reference point for truth. Everyone begins to say, ‘this is my truth,’ and there is no longer a place where people meet in agreement,” he added.

Globally, debates around gender identity and same-sex marriage remain highly contentious. Many Western nations, including the United States, Canada, Germany and France, have legalized same-sex marriage and, in some cases, allow legal gender transition.

In contrast, many countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East continue to reject such practices, with some maintaining strict legal penalties.

Religious institutions, including the Catholic Church and Islam, largely uphold the belief that gender is determined at birth and that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. However, some denominations in Europe and North America have begun to adopt more inclusive positions, reflecting a shift within certain religious communities.

International organizations continue to advocate for the protection of individuals from discrimination and violence, including those identifying as LGBTQ+, while leaving legal decisions on marriage to individual nations.

As discussions intensify worldwide, Cardinal Kambanda’s remarks echo the Catholic Church’s longstanding teachings, while also underscoring growing tensions between tradition, modern values and the evolving global conversation on identity and human rights.