Encouraging diplomats, military personnel and officials of international organizations to remain united to resolve conflicts, to choose peace over war, and understand that Artificial Intelligence is a digital tool that always has to be at the service of the people, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito offered a reflection at “The Americas for Peace” prayer service on Jan. 22, 2024 organized by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the Organization of American States.

The gathering at Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church in Washington, D.C., focused on “Artificial Intelligence and Peace,” the message of Pope Francis for World Peace Day 2024 on Jan. 1. Among those attending were the secretary general of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States; Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, permanent observer of the Holy See to the OAS; Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory; and Father Angel Gabriel Fermin, pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Americas.

Bishop Esposito noted that in the Holy Father’s message on “Artificial Intelligence and Peace,” “the word, or a related word, which is found most often in this document about artificial intelligence, is ‘human.’ ‘Human’ or ‘persons’ or ‘people’ are used, all emphasizing human intelligence over artificial intelligence, human freedom, human values, ‘a deeper understanding of the meaning of human life.”

Washington’s auxiliary bishop pointed out that, “What the Church in its dialogue with the world offers as a solution to making peace is precisely this: an authentic humanism. The fundamental dignity of the human person must be at the center of and must be the goal of peace, of any technology, of every public decision and policy.”

He added that “one of the predominant aspects of war is dehumanization. Seeing people as the ‘other,’ as a nameless, faceless animal called the enemy. The Aparecida document also identifies ‘disrespect for the dignity of each person [and] a deterioration of the social fabric’ as major causes for strife and conflict. It follows, then, that the road to peace is through a greater humanization of the world.” 

Bishop Esposito noted that Pope Francis in his World Peace Day message emphasized that if modern technologies aggravate inequalities and conflicts, that cannot be considered true progress. He also recalled that the Holy Father has said that if artificial intelligence is used to promote integral human development, substantial improvements could be achieved in the life of nations and the growth of human fraternity.

“At the original creation of the universe, the world knew the fullness of peace. All was as it should be in the tranquility of the divine order and justice. Let us pray then that the Lord helps us to be true to who and what He originally created us to be as human persons, that we might renounce violence as the answer to disputes and choose life over death,” Bishop Esposito emphasized. 

He said Pope Francis asks people to move forward together as they work for peace and justice. “St. Oscar Arnulfo Romero, who was archbishop of San Salvador, is an example of how life and peace are defended,” Bishop Esposito said.

On a personal note, Bishop Esposito noted that he was serving in Rome in December 2022, not far from the war raging in Ukraine, when he learned that Pope Francis had named him as an auxiliary bishop of Washington. After praying, the new bishop chose as his episcopal motto “Blessed are the Peacemakers” from Matthew’s Gospel on the Beatitudes.

“And on the prayer card for my consecration as a bishop, I quote Pope Francis’s Christmas message in 2022: ‘Dear brothers and dear sisters, the culture of peace is not built up solely between peoples and nations. It begins in the heart of every one of us.’”

The bishop added, “This calling to be peacemakers is for each and every person… None of us can rightly say that working for peace is for the experts or that what happens in other lands is not our concern… Peace after all the death and violence and suffering and exploitation and injustice is not a naïve dream. It is possible because of a choice of the heart. Peace is possible by remembering our own humanity and seeing the humanity in others.”

Bishop Espósito also took a moment to remember Bishop Mario Dorsonville of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, who served as a priest and auxiliary bishop in Washington. Bishop Dorsonville died unexpectantly on Jan.19 after ongoing health complications related to liver disease discovered late last year.

“Bishop Dorsonville did important work with officials of international organizations in Washington. He always worked with joy, he was a good and faithful servant of the Lord whom he loved so much and served with such fervent dedication,” said Bishop Esposito.

Before concluding the religious ceremony, participants joined in the Lord's Prayer and Pope Francis' prayer for peace. The group included OAS officials, diplomats accredited in Washington, military officials of the Inter-American Defense Board, priests, women religious and others from different parishes in the metropolitan area.

Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the Organization of American States, thanked participants for attending. He noted how, as wars are raging in Ukraine and the Middle East with the dangers of conflicts escalating, Pope Francis has urged the world’s people to pray and work for peace.

“Francis points out that the memory of past experiences should encourage us to cultivate peace in ourselves, in our families, in social and international life,” said Msgr. Serrano.

(This article was originally written in Spanish by Miguel Vivanco, the assistant editor of the El Pregonero newspaper and website of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, and it was translated into English for the Catholic Standard by Miguel Guilarte, the Hispanic communications integration specialist for the archdiocese’s Secretariat for Communications.)