Another ‘first time’ for Pope Francis: this time it is participation in a G7. The announcement came from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and was subsequently confirmed by the Vatican press office: the Pontiff will be at the event in Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, in mid-June, “in presence”, as specified by the Holy See, and will intervene in the session dedicated to artificial intelligence open to non-member countries, the so-called ‘Outreach’. This is precisely the first time – as the Prime Minister also recalled – of a Pontiff at the top which includes, in addition to Italy, the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.
The announcement had been in the air for a few days, even if confirmation only arrived today with the video of the prime minister. However, the machinery to guarantee security is already in motion – which is the responsibility of the country hosting the Pope, therefore Italy, in collaboration with the Vatican gendarmerie – but also all the necessary conditions for this unprecedented participation of a Pontiff at the summit of the greats of the earth. The Italian presidency of the G7 “intends to enhance the path “promoted by the Holy See” on Artificial Intelligence with the “Rome Call for AI Ethics” and “bring it to the attention of the other leaders on the occasion of the summit in Puglia”, underlined Meloni in video message announcing “the participation of Pope Francis in the work of the G7 in the session dedicated to Artificial Intelligence”.
“I am convinced that the presence of His Holiness will make a decisive contribution to the definition of a regulatory, ethical and cultural framework for artificial intelligence”, the prime minister said again, thus also confirming a consonance between the two banks of the Tiber that exists on various topics, especially ethical ones. Artificial intelligence is at the center of attention of this pontificate, in the awareness that it is a great opportunity, from healthcare to training, but also a transition that must be governed. Among the ‘pioneers’ is Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, which since 2020 has been involving religious leaders, large companies, universities from all over the world, in the signing of this ‘charter’, the Rome Call, which aims to be a value framework for the application of new technologies. “We have carried out a movement from below, now the Pope at the G7 will speak to the governments”, says Paglia, recalling how Francis “took to the field personally” by dedicating two of the most important documents of this year to artificial intelligence, the Message for Peace on January 1st and the Message for Social Communications Day.
In recent days, the Pope had also met the CEO of Cisco, Chuck Robbins, and appreciated the commitment to helping train prisoners. “For them it is like an open window onto the future”, Francis said on that occasion. AI therefore to help the most fragile and not to manipulate consciences or to destroy. It is emblematic that the next stop of the Rome Call will be in July in Japan, in Hiroshima, where it will also be endorsed by the leaders of the Eastern religions, after having been signed by the leaders of the Abrahamic religions (Christians, Jews, Muslims). For Father Paolo Benanti, advisor to the Pope on AI but also president of the Palazzo Chigi commission, the Vatican document which calls for the application of ethical principles to artificial intelligence, “shows the wisdom of religions on the topic, so that we can ensure a tomorrow of peace and prosperity for humanity. For the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication Paolo Ruffini “perhaps the great people of the Earth need to understand that we are all small because we will build our destiny together, only together will we build a better world. And the Pope repeats this continuously. The heart that the machines are missing, man puts it in”, he added. From Italian politics the applause of Michela Biancofiore who defines Meloni’s invitation to the Pope “a far-sighted initiative”.
Father Benanti, the Pope brings the wisdom of faiths to AI at the G7
“At a time when the complexity of the scenario, linked to technological evolution, shows that there is no type of knowledge that alone solves all problems, the Rome Call”, the Vatican document which calls for the application of principles of ethics to artificial intelligence, “shows the wisdom of religions on this topic, so that we can ensure a future of peace and prosperity for humanity. In this context, the Pope’s participation in the G7 in Puglia is of great importance”. This was stated to ANSA by Father Paolo Benanti, advisor to Pope Francis on artificial intelligence, professor of the Gregoriana and member of the AI Committee at the United Nations, and president of the Commission on artificial intelligence at Palazzo Chigi.
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