Artifical intelligence and its glowing extracts come in to the picture as the world shares a commemoration with the church.
Every year on the Sunday preceding Pentecost, the Church commemorates World Communications Day, a celebration dedicated to acknowledging the accomplishments of communication media and contemplating their optimal utilization in advancing gospel principles.
The Backstory
World Communications Day was inaugurated by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual observance prompting introspection on the opportunities and obstacles presented by modern modes of social communication, including the press, motion pictures, radio, television, and the internet, in conveying the gospel message.
Emerging in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council, which recognized the imperative of engaging with contemporary society, the celebration epitomizes the council’s declaration in the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes on “The Church in the Modern World.”
The establishment of World Communications Day on May 7, 1967, by Pope Paul VI, shortly after the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, reflects the Church’s intrinsic connection with humanity and its historical context. It aims to draw attention to the transformative influence wielded by communication media in shaping culture.
Pope Paul VI and his successors consistently acknowledge the positive potential of communication media in fostering values such as truth, beauty, and goodness, while also cautioning against the propagation of less virtuous ideals and the potential imposition of conflicting messages on individuals’ minds and consciences.
The Perspective For 2024
For the 58th iteration of World Communication Day in 2024, Pope Francis has chosen the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Wisdom of the Heart: For a Fully Human Communication,” which puts in context the importance of blending technological advancements with the empathetic understanding inherent in human interaction.
A Short Prayer
O God, whose word is truth
and in whose light we see light,
guide those who tell the story of our times through word and image.
Make them seekers after truth and advocates of human dignity.
Grant discernment to all who rely on their labours,
and, as we confront the pain and promise of this world,
awaken in us a sense of wonder at your presence
and of longing for your peace.
World Communications Day 2024
This year’s World Communications Day, celebrated on May 12, focuses on examining the impact and potential risks associated with artificial intelligence.
The event, an annual reflection on how the Church communicates the Gospel message, is observed each year on the Sunday preceding Pentecost. Originating in 1967 with Pope Paul VI, the tradition includes a message from the pope addressing ways the Church can enhance its communication role in contemporary society.
The Pontiff’s Call
Pope Francis in his address, acknowledges the utility of artificial intelligence in data processing and information exchange but emphasizes its inability to provide the nuanced understanding and empathetic insight intrinsic to human communication. He asserts that while machines may excel in data management, the interpretation and application of that data remain distinctly human endeavors.
Pope Francis also scores the importance of the wisdom of the heart, which allows us to integrate various aspects of life such as decisions and consequences, individuality and community, past and future.
He points out that while machines may surpass humans in data processing, only humans can truly make sense of that data. Thus, he underscores the need for God’s guidance to ensure technology is used for positive and life-enhancing purposes rather than causing harm.
Bearing in mind the concerns of a society becoming increasingly reliant on technology at the expense of human connection, Pope Francis advocates for a spiritual perspective centered on the human heart. He posits that true wisdom, essential for navigating the complexities of modernity, cannot be derived from machines but must be rooted in a spiritual understanding of reality.
By embracing a wisdom of the heart, individuals can engage with technological advancements while preserving the essence of fully human communication.
We must be careful not to ‘robotize’ the beauty of human communication.
