An evening of reflection on Magnifica Humanitas amongst growing AI discourse

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Organized by the Intercommunity Sisters Peace and Justice Committee, Monsignor William Cleves, pastor, Holy Spirit Parish, Newport, will be sharing a reflection on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical Maginifca Humanitas. The first of two evening events will take place Oct. 26, 7:00 p.m. in the Curia’s Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium, Covington, the second evening will be on November 30, at the same time and location.

The Committee was formed to focus on matters of social justice and the Church’s social justice teaching, so it was natural that when Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical on the effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the human person that the Committee would be interested. “We thought this would be perfect, it goes along with what we believe is part of our call,” said Notre Dame Sister Shauna Bankemper.

Monsignor Cleves’ reflection will be focused primarily on chapters 3-5 of the encyclical which highlight technology and dominance, safeguarding of humanity and a culture of power. Following the reflection there will be time for small group discussion, facilitated by a member of the committee. At the end of the evening, people will be invited to ask questions which will be discussed at the Nov. 30 gathering.

Sister Bankemper says the biggest draw for people to come is the topic itself, “If they haven’t read the encyclical, their currosity to see what Pope Leo [XIV] was writing about at this time, about human dignity and how we have to preserve human dignity, especially in a digital age,” she said.

“I think they [people who attend] will be grateful that the Church has entered into the dialog with our world over the fast pace at which AI is moving, and that the Church is asking that we look through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching as to how we’re addressing this AI, plus all the other issues that our cultures are wrestling with,” she said.

No registration is required for the event, so Sister Bankemper hopes, “that a variety of people from different parishes and different communities can join us.”