Franciscan Friar: The Vatican's Ethical Voice on Artificial Intelligence

In the heart of Rome, garbed in the simple brown robe of his medieval Franciscan order, Friar Paolo Benanti stands as an unexpected figure amid the discourse on contemporary technology. Known within the sacred walls of the Vatican for his expertise, Benanti confronts a critical issue of the modern age: ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) enhances human life rather than exploits it.

Nexus of Faith and Technology

As a reference for the Vatican on technology matters, the 50-year-old Italian priest with an engineering background, a doctorate in moral theology, and a fervent interest in 'technology ethics' advises Pope Francis and engages with top engineers and executives from Silicon Valley.

Benanti, who shared in Pope Francis' 2024 peace message calling for an international treaty for the ethical use of AI technology, explores existential questions about humanity in the face of sophisticated machines.

Vatican's AI Ethical Adviser

A member of the United Nations AI Advisory Body and the head of an Italian government commission advising on protecting journalism against fake news, Benanti also consults for the Pontifical Academy for Life at the Vatican. He assists in making complex technical terms understandable for Pope Francis, an assistance that proved valuable during a Vatican meeting involving Microsoft President Brad Smith in 2023, focusing on AI's potential role in humanity's benefit or detriment.

The pontiff has expressed concerns about AI, particularly its potential to infringe human rights, such as negatively impacting a migrant's asylum request or influencing recidivism predictions.

Friar's Journey from Engineering to Ethics

Once an engineering student at the University of Sapienza in Rome and a year away from graduating when he chose to join the Franciscans at the age of 20, Benanti emphasizes that while AI can be an incredibly powerful tool, it also raises ethical implications akin to those posed by human capabilities, if not greater. For Benanti, 'It's not about the use but the governance' of AI, where ethics play a crucial role in determining its appropriate social context and application.

Vatican, ethics, AI