‘Artificial Intelligence and Peace’ Theme of 57th World Day of Peace Message of His Holiness Pope Francis

People taking photos and videos of His Holiness Pope Francis at the weekly General Audience  (AFP or licensors)

His Holiness Pope Francis releases the theme of his message for the 57th World Day of Peace, and calls for open dialogue on the topic of artificial intelligence which is “endowed with disruptive possibilities and ambivalent effects.”

By Edoardo Giribaldi

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development released a statement presenting the next Message of the World Day of Peace’s theme, which will touch on “Artificial Intelligence and Peace.”

Open dialogue

The press release noted the “remarkable advances made in the field of artificial intelligence” and how they “are having a rapidly increasing impact on human activity, personal and social life, politics and the economy.”

In this context, His Holiness Pope Francis will call “for an open dialogue on the meaning of these new technologies, endowed with disruptive possibilities and ambivalent effects.”

The Holy Father is going to stress the importance to be “vigilant” while working “so that a logic of violence and discrimination does not take root in the production and use of such devices, at the expense of the most fragile and excluded,” as “injustice and inequalities fuel conflicts and antagonisms.”

At the service of humanity

The Message will also touch on the impelling “need to orient the concept and use of artificial intelligence in a responsible way,” aiming “at having it at the service of humanity and the protection of our common home.”

This will not be possible without extending “that ethical reflection” to the fields of “education and law.”

The statement concluded by stating how “the protection of the dignity of the person, and concern for a fraternity effectively open to the entire human family,” represent “indispensable conditions for technological development to help contribute to the promotion of justice and peace in the world.”

World Day of Peace

Every January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Church celebrates the World Day of Peace. The recurrence was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967, instituting a long tradition of messages from the Holy Father exhorting all people to reflect on important subjects in relation to the work of building peace…

This report was originally published on the Vatican News website. Please click here to read the full text.