Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, called on Catholic media professionals to center human dignity in their use of artificial intelligence. He delivered a recorded address to the 2nd Cebu Metropolitan Catholic Mass Media Congress, which convened October 3-4 in the Philippines.

The gathering, hosted by the Archdiocese of Cebu under Archbishop Alberto Uy, brought together approximately 800 communicators, clergy, and educators. The event’s theme focused on human dignity at the heart of AI innovation in media ministry.

Ruffini urged attendees to prioritize authentic relationships and the common good over technological efficiency. He contrasted the Filipino concept of “kapwa,” which emphasizes shared identity, with digital platforms that reduce users to isolated data points for commercial gain.

“We must always place the person and the common good at the center, together with empathy, reciprocity and gratitude,” Ruffini said.

The prefect warned that the primary danger in the current technological landscape is not the tools themselves, but the mindset behind them. He cautioned against “immature and unreflective egocentrism” in both the design and consumption of digital media.

Ruffini referenced Pope Leo XIV’s World Communications Day message, encouraging communicators to act as active stewards of truth rather than passive consumers. He stressed the need for transparency and accountability in storytelling to preserve human identity in an increasingly automated information ecosystem.

The congress featured keynote addresses from Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon and industry leaders Howie Severino, Gretchen Ho, and Alex Rich. Breakout sessions were led by various communication experts and religious figures, including Fr. Albert Garong, SSP, and Annie Perez-Gallardo.