Inaugurating the first National Catholic Media Conference in India, organized by Salesian priests, the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communications, Paolo Ruffini, reflected on our responsibility to share and communicate the truth and to shape our times in the best possible way .
Vatican News
India, Saturday, November 23, 2024 (REI): As the world of communications is revolutionized, the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communications asked: “Can Catholic communicators use communication as a means to share the truth and build a better world? Respond to the challenge of creating a platform for community, mutual partnership and collaboration?”
In his speech at the launch of the first National Catholic Media Conference, held in Bangalore, India, on November 23 and 24, Paolo Ruffini said: “We live in a time when a revolution is taking place in the world of communications.”
this is our moment
Highlighting the urgency to act, he said: “This is our moment. (…) We are shaping it through what we do and what we don’t do.”
The event titled “Illuminare: Promoting Digital Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” aims to explore the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on the lives of dedicated people, as well as promote its responsible and ethical use.
“It’s not just about navigating digital waters,” Ruffini said, adding that this would not be possible without those who have the responsibility to shape the world by telling and sharing the truth.
“Sharing is the key word”
He encouraged his listeners to create a network where they could share stories and form relationships and to use artificial intelligence (which, according to him, could be very useful but also potentially harmful), without losing humanity, but “being more mature as human beings.” .”
He noted that the development of artificial intelligence in communication could help strengthen relationships between individuals or increase loneliness, “depriving each of us of the warmth that only true communication can provide.”
Responsibility in the use of AI
Ruffini expressed confidence that AI could be used to promote equality, not to create a “new class based on information dominance” that would lead to “algorithmic capture and extraction of data from the inexhaustible mine of our lives.” . forms of exploitation.
He said: “The central question is about humans, not machines; about relationships between humans, not algorithms.” “Are we ready for this challenge?” Raising this question, Ruffini said: “We all know the power of the media to bring out the best in every person.”
“Communication can be a means to build a better world, or it can foster misunderstandings, resentments, hostility,” he said, adding that “there is no one who spreads the truth and activates the dynamics of good in our stories.” “The investment is not very big.”
unity in diversity
Recalling Pope Francis’ encouragement to never despair and to always foster relationship and cooperation between all members of the human family, Ruffini called for “building communication based on relationships and humanity to combat the virus of division.”
He said: “At a time when many are tempted to build a new Tower of Babel, we are called to serve this miracle of unity in diversity.” “We need to help each other to make it work.” “At a time when many are tempted to build a new Tower of Babel, we are called to serve this miracle of unity in diversity.”
He concluded that digital communications provide us with the opportunity to connect in a way never seen before and expressed confidence that the conference will provide “viable ways to create a platform, a community of mutual exchange and collaboration.”
