Speaking at the Italian Parliament during a conference on ‘Faith and Reason in the Age of Artificial Intelligence’, Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin called for a global, ethical framework to govern artificial intelligence. Addressing tech industry calls for AI regulation, Parolin warned against individual nations “going it alone” on a technology that shapes humanity’s collective future. Aligning with Italian President Sergio Mattarella’s recent calls for shared responsibility, the Cardinal emphasized that governing global technology requires multilateral cooperation rather than isolated state strategies.
Clarifying the Vatican’s role ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, Parolin noted that the Holy See focuses on establishing moral and ethical principles rather than formulating technical policy. On a personal note regarding technology, the Cardinal shared that while he encounters basic AI tools like automated summaries in daily computer use, he refrains from using AI to write homilies, remarking that “artificial intelligence is all head and no heart.”
Shifting to international affairs, Cardinal Parolin reflected on the Holy See’s ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding the war in Ukraine. Acknowledging that tangible outcomes remain limited, he described Vatican diplomacy as a process of “sowing seeds” through humanitarian channels in the hope of future peace. Reaffirming the necessity of keeping communication open with Moscow, Parolin stressed that avoiding isolation and maintaining dialogue are essential to finding long-term solutions where all parties can achieve security and stability.