The Rome Call for AI Ethics invites the global community—including the Church, governments, scientists, educators, and private sectors—to pause and reflect on this emerging reality. It proposes a vision in which technological progress remains rooted in human dignity, social inclusion, and care for our common home.

In this sense, the Rome Call is more than a policy document. It is a moral and spiritual compass for an age where machines increasingly influence human choices.

Keeping the Human Person at the Center
The Call reminds us that technology alone cannot guarantee progress. The most profound changes brought about by AI are not merely quantitative—faster data, bigger systems—but qualitative, reshaping how we understand ourselves and relate to one another.

AI has the potential to heighten our creativity and solve pressing global challenges, but it can also influence our mental habits, limit our freedom through algorithmic manipulation, or widen the gap between the powerful and the vulnerable.

Human dignity, the foundation of all social and ethical life, must therefore guide every stage of AI development—from design to deployment. AI must never discriminate, exclude, or endanger those who are weakest. Instead, it should promote empowerment, participation, and a deeper expression of our shared humanity.

The Rome Call affirms that technology serves its purpose only when it expands—not restricts—the human capacity for truth, freedom, and communion.

The Transformative Power of Education
One of the most striking elements in the document is its emphasis on education. Preparing the next generation to live responsibly with AI is not optional; it is essential.

Education must ensure that no one is left behind—not the poor, not the elderly, not those with disabilities. The document calls for accessible, inclusive, and interdisciplinary learning that integrates the humanities, sciences, and ethics. AI should strengthen these efforts, not weaken them.

For religious missionary institutions, education is not only about transmitting skills but forming persons. It is an opportunity to teach discernment, responsibility, and the ethical use of technology for the common good.

Human Rights and the Need for Algor-Ethics
The Rome Call stresses that protecting human rights in the digital era requires new forms of regulation and ethical responsibility. Artificial intelligence systems must be transparent, traceable, and accountable. People have a right to know when they are interacting with machines and what data is influencing decisions that affect their lives.

The document proposes six principles—transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, reliability, and security—as the foundation for “algor-ethics,” an ethics built into technology from the beginning. This approach challenges society not only to regulate technology but to shape it according to the values that sustain human life and community.

A Shared Future Shaped Together
Perhaps the most hopeful aspect of the Rome Call is its insistence on collaboration. Governments, tech companies, universities, faith communities, and civil society must work together to ensure that AI contributes to peace, justice, and the flourishing of all.

AI is not simply a technical issue; it is a human one. And because it touches every aspect of life, it requires shared responsibility and shared wisdom. Technology must never overshadow the relational and spiritual dimensions of human existence. The Rome Call reminds us that our future must be built with technology, not by technology alone.

Policy Implications for Religious Institutions like the SVD
For the Society of the Divine Word—engaged in mission, communication, education, intercultural dialogue, and pastoral care—the Rome Call offers clear guidance:

1. Create Ethical Frameworks for AI in Mission Activities

SVD provinces and offices should develop policies ensuring:

• responsible oversight of AI-generated or assisted content,
• clear disclosure when AI tools are used,
• prevention of harmful or deceptive uses of AI,
• respect for privacy, copyright, and data protection.
  
  

2. Strengthen Formation in Digital Ethics
AI literacy should be integrated into:

• initial formation and ongoing missionary education,
• media and communication apostolates,
• leadership training for formators, educators, and pastoral workers.
  
  

This includes understanding how AI influences culture, identity, and social justice.

3. Promote Technology that Fosters Human Encounter
Mission must remain rooted in personal presence, listening, and intercultural sensitivity. AI tools should serve, not replace:

• pastoral accompaniment,
• genuine dialogue,
• the storytelling and witness central to evangelization.
  
  

4. Advocate for Ethical and Inclusive AI Development
The SVD, present in nearly 80 countries, can:

• raise awareness about digital inequality,
• support communities affected by technological exclusion,
• encourage ethical governance of AI at national and international levels.
  
  

5. Model a Culture of Transparency, Respect, and Responsibility
In all communication and education ministries, the SVD should ensure:

• responsible data handling,
• protection of vulnerable communities,
• communication that reflects compassion, truth, and dignity.
  
  

AI is reshaping our world faster than we can fully understand. How should the Church—and the SVD family—respond with faith, wisdom, and courage?

We invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, and questions as we journey together in discerning the ethical and missionary implications of artificial intelligence.

The link to the full text of the Rome Call for AI Ethics can be accessed: