Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as an innovative tool in catechesis, offering new ways to transmit faith.
A significant example comes from Switzerland, where the church of St. Peter in Lucerne has installed a hologram of Jesus powered by AI, called “Deus in Machina.” This experimental project allows believers to interact with a digital representation of Jesus, who responds to their questions based on New Testament teachings. The initiative has sparked mixed reactions: some participants reported positive spiritual experiences, while others raised ethical concerns about AI in religious contexts. (theguardian.com)
In Australia, Catholic schools in Brisbane have introduced “Catholic CoPilot,” a chatbot developed in collaboration with Microsoft and designed to align with Catholic teachings. This tool assists teachers in daily tasks, such as lesson planning and assessments, ensuring that content adheres to Catholic principles. (theaustralian.com.au)
In France, “La CatéGPT” has been developed, an application that uses AI to answer believers’ questions, drawing from Church Magisterium documents and the Holy Scriptures. This tool aims to support catechesis by providing quick and accurate answers to questions about faith. (omnesmag.com)
However, the use of AI in catechesis raises ethical and theological questions. The Holy See recently published the note “Antiqua et Nova,” reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of AI, emphasizing the importance of using it as a complementary tool to human intelligence without replacing interpersonal relationships essential in transmitting faith. (vatican.va)
In Italy, the Pastoral Orientation Center has initiated reflections on AI as a resource in pastoral care, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that values technological potential without neglecting the human and ethical dimension of evangelization. (centroorientamentopastorale.it) These experiments indicate a growing interest in integrating AI into catechesis, offering opportunities to make religious education more accessible and engaging while maintaining a critical reflection on the ethical and responsible use of such technologies.
