Vatican Announces Theme for 60th World Day of Social Communications

Vatican City, 29 September 2025 – The Holy See has announced “Preserving human voices and faces” as the theme for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, to be celebrated on 17 May 2026, the Sunday before Pentecost. Pope Leo XIV chose the theme to reflect the growing influence of technology on human interactions and the Church’s commitment to safeguarding the human element in communication.

In a statement, the Dicastery for Communication, responsible for overseeing the World Day, highlighted that today’s communication ecosystems are increasingly shaped by technology, from algorithms curating news feeds to AI generating entire texts and conversations. While acknowledging that these advances offer unprecedented possibilities, the Dicastery emphasised that technology cannot replace human capacities for empathy, ethics, and moral responsibility. “Public communication requires human judgment, not just data patterns,” it stated, calling for a future where machines serve as tools that enhance rather than erode the human voice.

The announcement also raised concerns about the risks associated with artificial intelligence. AI, it noted, can produce misleading or manipulative content, replicate biases, amplify disinformation, and invade privacy without consent. Overreliance on AI, the Dicastery warned, weakens critical thinking and creativity, while concentrated control of these systems may exacerbate inequality. The statement urged the introduction of Media Literacy, and even Media and Artificial Intelligence Literacy (MAIL), into formal education to equip especially young people with critical thinking skills and spiritual freedom.

Pope Leo has consistently highlighted the Church’s responsibility to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Soon after his election on 8 May, he cited Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum in explaining his papal name, noting the Church’s role in responding to new social and technological transformations.

Addressing participants in the Second Annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Business Governance, the Pope stressed that AI’s benefits and risks must be judged by the ethical imperative to safeguard human dignity and respect cultural and spiritual diversity worldwide.

Courtesy: Vatican News