On 1st January 2023, the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City State enacted the “Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence”. This decree, numbered DCCII, regulates the use of artificial intelligence (AI), a tool that Pope Francis, during the G7 summit in June 2024, defined as both a “tool fascinating and terrifying”. The Pope called for steps towards a “sound policy that can guide this artificial intelligence towards the construction of the common good and a better future”. For the complete decree, please refer to: https://www.vaticanstate.va/images/N.%20DCCII.pdf
As clearly explained on the Vatican’s official website: “The cardinal principle is that technological innovation cannot and must never surpass or replace the human being. On the contrary, it must be at its service, so that technology supports and respects human dignity. This approach emphasizes a balance between technological progress and respect for fundamental human values, such as dignity, individual rights, and freedom. The intention is to make artificial intelligence a resource that, if well regulated, can promote well-being and progress without compromising ethical and social principles”.
Purpose of the Pontifical Decree on Artificial Intelligence
The purpose of this new Pontifical Decree is to regulate the field of AI use in Vatican City State. It is established that AI use is possible in systems and models that “contribute to improving the health of the person and the protection of health”. In this sector, in addition to guaranteeing information to patients, the use of AI must not “prejudice or limit the decision-making assessment of healthcare professionals”. Another sector in which the possibility of using AI is identified concerns the “conservation, management, enhancement, and use of the artistic and museum heritage of Vatican City State”.
Regarding the use of AI systems and models in the reproduction, extraction, and creation of textual, musical, photographic, audiovisual, and radiophonic content, and of the figurative arts, there is no explicit prohibition but a requirement to identify these contents “with the acronym AI”. The Governorate will be “the exclusive holder of the right of paternity and economic rights of use over textual, musical, photographic, audiovisual, and radiophonic content, and of the figurative arts created through the use of artificial intelligence”. It is further stated that these contents must not “prejudice the honor, reputation, decorum, and prestige of the Supreme Pontiff, the Catholic Church, and Vatican City State”. Finally, other norms regulate the use of AI in work, administration, and justice.
The intersection of AI and the religious world represents a fertile ground for theological and technological reflections. A terrain that, if cultivated with wisdom, could give rise to new forms of spirituality and social commitment. Below we discuss AI possible uses and potential as well as its challenges and ethical issues.
The potential of Artificial Intelligence for Religious Congregations
AI can be a powerful tool for disseminating religious messages, personalizing them and reaching a wider audience through digital channels. AI chatbots (i.e., software that simulates and processes human conversations, allowing users to interact with digital devices as if they were communicating with a real person) can answer questions of faith, translate sacred texts, and even organise online events.
AI can also help manage religious communities, automating administrative tasks, organizing prayer groups, and facilitating communication among members. It can also be used to analyse sacred texts, identifying recurring themes and new connections, opening new perspectives of interpretation and in-depth study.
Finally, AI can support the initiatives of Religious Congregations in the social field, helping to identify the needs of communities and design targeted interventions.
What are the main challenges and ethical issues?
There is the risk that AI could replace the human dimension of faith, such as prayer, confession, and spiritual counselling. For this reason, it is important to keep the human being at the centre of the religious process.
In addition, the use of personal data to personalize religious content raises privacy concerns. As such, it is fundamental to guarantee data protection and transparency in the use of information.
AI algorithms can reflect biases present in the data they are trained on, leading to discrimination and a distorted representation of reality.
Moreover, an excessive reliance on technology could weaken interpersonal relationships within religious communities.
In this regard, we can cite several concrete examples of how AI has been used in this sector:
- Religious chatbots: various Congregations have developed chatbots capable of answering questions about faith, providing prayers and spiritual advice.
- Prayer apps: numerous apps offer personalized religious content, such as Bible readings, guided meditations, and online communities.
- Analysis of sacred texts: some projects use AI to analyse sacred texts such as the Bible or the Quran, identifying recurring themes and building conceptual maps.
Conclusion
AI offers Religious Congregations new opportunities to spread the faith, strengthen communities, and respond to the challenges of the contemporary world.
However, it is fundamental to address the ethical and technological challenges with caution, keeping the human being at the centre and guaranteeing a responsible and ethical use of these technologies.
If you desire specific advice on this topic, do not hesitate to contact us by writing to: info@fiatlux.legal: our experts will be happy to assist you in clarifying any of your doubts.