As young Catholics prepare for World Youth Day 2027 in South Korea, discussions on artificial intelligence and ethics have begun at Seoul’s Myeongdong Cathedral. Franciscan Father Paolo Benanti, the Vatican’s top expert on the subject, has called for ethical artificial intelligence.
“We need to change our perspective on the ethics of technology and see it as a form of power. Any use of AI involves a moral choice. We must strive to foster the development, innovation at the service of the common good,” Father Benanti said at Myeongdong Cathedral, calling for “ethical artificial intelligence” as preparations for the international youth gathering get underway. Invited by the local church, the theologian and ethicist addressed 800 young people on the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Its Ethical Implications.” Vatican’An artificial intelligence expert and technology adviser to the Pope, Father Benanti is a member of the United Nations Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence and chairs an Italian government commission charged with protecting journalism from fake news and disinformation.
“Don’t be intimidated by technology. As Pope Benedict XVI said, technology is a form of power. As he taught in Caritas in truth, “Technology reveals humanity’s aspiration for development and our deep desire to overcome material limitations. If used wisely, it can bring us closer to contemplating and worshiping the Lord,” he told young Koreans, stressing the importance of exploring the ethical dimensions of modern technology and the complexity of artificial intelligence.
Using historical examples to illustrate the impact of technology on society, Father Benanti conveyed a message of shared responsibility: technological advances affect not only engineers and computer scientists, but all of society, which calls for a deep reflection on human life and future ethics. He also advocated for a thoughtful approach to technological progress, emphasizing the need to strengthen human dignity and promote the well-being of society, especially for the younger generations.
His speech marked the beginning of a series of initiatives organized by the Communications Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul in collaboration with the local organizing committee of World Youth Day 2027. The program includes meetings, seminars and catechisms designed to engage young people in discussions on contemporary issues.
AI Data Challenges
This problem deeply affects Korean youth. A recent report found that internet penetration in South Korea in 2023 was nearly universal for people aged 10 to 49. AI has become a crucial tool in the workplace, with young adults adopting it at rates far higher than their peers in other countries.
Report from Samsung Electronics, The AI Entrepreneur Effect 2024examined how Gen Z is using advanced technology to boost their careers. It found that 80% of young people in South Korea rely on AI as a key resource and are optimistic about “AI’s potential to transform their approach to work.” The report also found that people with side jobs who use AI in their daily lives use it for a variety of tasks, including documentation, research, and content creation. Among Koreans, 46% use AI to summarize documents, 37% for content creation, and 36% for research and inspiration.
Jessica Jun, a professional teacher who writes about “Ethical Dilemmas: South Korean Students and ChatGPT” in AVERAGEJun noted that a common ethical issue with AI tools like ChatGPT is plagiarism, as they generate content from internet sources and can unintentionally plagiarize the work of others. This underscores the growing importance of proper citation and responsible use of AI. Jun also raised privacy concerns, as ChatGPT does not disclose its data sources, raising concerns about privacy violations and attacks on authorship. Additionally, bias in AI training data is problematic, as AI tools can produce biased responses, which can potentially spread misinformation and reinforce prejudice, she explained.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol also called for the creation of an international organization affiliated with the UN and dedicated to developing rules and guidelines on digital ethics, recognizing the significant risks posed by the misuse of AI and digital technologies.
World Youth Day, Seoul
Preparations for the next World Youth Day (WYD), to be held in 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, officially began on July 28. A solemn Mass brought together more than a thousand faithful, as well as diplomatic representatives from eight countries, at Myeongdong Cathedral in the heart of the South Korean capital.
Presiding over the ceremony, Seoul Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung stressed the importance of involving young people in preparing for the event. “I believe that World Youth Day “This is an invaluable opportunity for young people around the world, including our Korean youth, to reflect and commit themselves,” he said in his homily, according to Fides. “In the coming months, the imperative is to unite our hearts, pray together and listen to the Holy Spirit to prepare ourselves seriously for this journey.”
World Youth Day is a global event organized by the Pope approximately every three years in a different country. The last WYD was held in Lisbon, Portugal, from August 1 to 6, 2023. The next WYD is scheduled for Seoul in the summer of 2027.
WYD was created in 1984 when St. John Paul II organized a gathering on Palm Sunday in Rome to celebrate the Youth Jubilee of the Holy Year of Redemption 1983-1984. While 60,000 pilgrims were expected, the event attracted 250,000 young people from various countries. It was a great success and became the model for WYD, the first of which took place in 1987. More than 400,000 faithful are expected for the next WYD.
