Church communicators must ensure that artificial intelligence does not replace human dignity and authentic encounters, but rather serves them, speakers said at a seminar on AI held on the sidelines of the 131st General Conference of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
A Jan. 20 seminar hosted by the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communication (ECSC) brought together bishops and experts to consider the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in evangelization, pastoral ministry, and media work.
Edwin López, newly appointed executive director of the CBCP-ECSC, emphasized that the church’s approach to AI must still be rooted in relationships.
“Technology helps. Communication saves,” Lopez said, stressing that digital tools should never replace real human encounters. “In a world of constant connectivity, maintaining high-quality relationships is the rarest form of communication.”
“People always come first”
In his presentation, López noted that evangelization is inherently relational and cautioned against treating AI as a substitute for pastoral presence.
“God didn’t just send a message; He sent Himself,” he said, pointing to the Incarnation as a model for the church’s communication. “Evangelization is not automatic; it must always lead people into encounters.”
Based on Catholic social teaching and media ethics, López emphasized that AI tools should support human discernment, not replace it.
He also warned against over-reliance on so-called “agent AI” and questioned whether machines can provide the relational presence essential to Christian communication.
“Can agent AI generate communication?” he asked. “In evangelization, relational communication always precedes persuasive communication.”
