Technology

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Pope Francis meets with members of the Pontifical Academy for Life on Feb. 12, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Technological development must promote the human being

Feb 13, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The pope’s comments come as members of the Pontifical Academy for Life are meeting in Rome from Feb. 12–14 for... Read more

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, speaks to victims and their family members as he testifies during the US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis" in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 31, 2024.

‘Blood on your hands’: Lawmakers grill tech CEOs on child exploitation ‘crisis’

Jan 31, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Executives from social media outlets faced tough questioning at a hearing on “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation... Read more

Church of the Sacred Heart in Bordeaux, France.

France’s Catholic clergy to carry ID cards proving they are in good standing

May 16, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The French Bishops’ Conference announced the change as part of a large set of measures designed to “intensify the fight... Read more

Photo illustration.

Former Google scientist warns about the dangers of artificial intelligence

May 7, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

A leading artificial intelligence researcher some call the “godfather” of AI says the technology is developing at a “scary” rate. Read more

Franciscan Univesity of Steubenville students who participated in the Unplugged Scholarship in its first year (from left to right): Theresa Ryan, Grace Pollock, and Paul Merkel

These Catholic college students dumped their smartphones for the year. Here’s what happened

May 7, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Three students from Franciscan University of Steubenville share what it was like to participate in the Unplugged Scholarship this academic... Read more

In his address to a Catholic university in Hungary on April 30, 2023, Pope Francis spoke about the false freedoms offered by both communism and consumerism, and encouraged people to seek out Christ’s truth.

Pope Francis warns of technological domination, threat to human ecology at university in Hungary

Apr 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope also spoke about the false freedoms offered by both communism and consumerism, and encouraged people to seek out... Read more

Pope Francis meets with participants of the Minerva Dialogues — a meeting of scientists, engineers, business leaders, lawyers, philosophers, Catholic theologians, ethicists, and members of the Roman Curia to discuss digital technologies — at the Vatican on March 27, 2023.

Pope Francis: An ethical AI respects human dignity

Mar 27, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning could be beneficial to society if they respect... Read more

Pope Francis with the Pontifical Academy for Life on Feb. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis asks Pontifical Academy for Life to study ethics of emerging technologies

Feb 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The rapid acceleration of new technologies can produce significant consequences for human life and the environment Pope Francis said Feb.... Read more

A person takes a photo of Pope Francis on a cell phone during a papal audience on Dec. 10, 2022.

Pope Francis: Look at each other, not cell phone screens

Dec 15, 2022

By Courtney Mares

“Our eyes are meant to look into the eyes of others. They were not made to look down at a... Read more

Pope Francis met with members of the Society of Saint Paul on June 18, 2022.

Pope Francis: Follow St. Paul’s wisdom when using tech to spread the Gospel

Jun 18, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope also warned about “disinformation” in today’s media environment. Read more

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Can robots learn law? Scientists and theologians discuss the future of AI

May 23, 2022

By Andreas Thonhauser

Scientists and theologians have gathered in Rome to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Read more

Pope Francis during his general audience in Paul VI Hall on January 26, 2022.

Pope Francis’ Lenten message: Addiction to digital media can hurt human relationships

Feb 24, 2022

By Courtney Mares

"May the corporal fasting to which Lent calls us fortify our spirit for the battle against sin,” Pope Francis said. Read more

A website and smartphone app to help Catholics pray for the synod on synodality was launched Oct. 19, 2021.

Vatican launches prayer website ‘to accompany’ Synod on Synodality

Oct 20, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The app Click To Pray will also promote prayer for the synodal process. Read more

New tech company aims to provide platform for Catholic businesses

Jun 8, 2021

By Kate Scanlon

A Catholic technology company recently launched a platform for Catholic publishers, small businesses, and religious communities to reach customers and... Read more

Cyber security expert urges Vatican to strengthen internet defenses

Nov 18, 2020

A cyber security expert has urged the Vatican to take immediate action to strengthen its defenses against hackers.  Read more

ASIMO, a humanoid robot created by Honda in 2000 (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Pope Francis: Pray that robotics and AI always serve humankind

Nov 3, 2020

Pope Francis has invited Catholics around the world to pray that robotics and artificial intelligence will remain always at the... Read more

Antonia Salzano, mother of Carlo Acutis. Screengrab: EWTN.

Mom of Carlo Acutis: Teen computer whiz was an ‘influencer’ for God

Sep 24, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Venerable Carlo Acutis, who will be beatified in Assisi Oct. 10, is an example of a teen who used the... Read more

The manuscript of Newman’s “Apologia Pro Vita Sua” at the Birmingham Oratory in England.

Technology sheds new light on life of St. John Henry Newman

Aug 29, 2020

A team spread across three continents is using cutting-edge technology to shed new light on the figure of St. John... Read more

Carlo Acutis.

Beatification date set for computer programming teen Carlo Acutis

Jun 13, 2020

Venerable Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager and computer programmer who died in 2006, will be beatified October 10 in Assisi,... Read more

CNA

Pontifical Academy for Life, tech companies, call for ethical use of AI technology

Feb 28, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pontifical Academy for Life signed Friday, alongside presidents of IBM and Microsoft, a call for ethical and responsible use... Read more