SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

AI and Cradles: This is How the Vatican is Preparing for the Jubilee Year

An AI-generated version of St. Peter's Basilica, a webcam at the building's holy gate and experiments with a Jesus avatar. Ahead of the jubilee year 2025, the Vatican is betting on new technology.

» Published: December 24 2024

AI and Cradles: This is How the Vatican is Preparing for the Jubilee Year
Photo: Andrew Medichini/AP/TT

"Hope does not disappoint" (spes non confundit). So read the title of the bull through which Pope Francis in April proclaimed 2025 to be a jubilee year. Such specially holy years are celebrated once every 25 years within the Catholic Church – and now it's time again.

The theme for the jubilee year, hope, comes from the Pope's thoughts on what people need in a world of war and conflicts, in the aftermath of the covid pandemic and climate crisis, according to Stockholm's Catholic Diocese.

Through the Gate

The Pope is clearly eager to spread his hopeful message. So eager that he has taken the help of advanced technology to reach believers around the world. Last week, an AI version of St. Peter's Basilica, a digital platform developed with a software giant and based on over 400,000 high-resolution images taken with drones, ordinary cameras, and laser technology, was launched.

All, really all, should feel welcome in this fantastic house, said an enthusiastic Pope according to AFP before the inauguration of the platform.

Through the platform, visitors can also book tickets to St. Peter's Basilica, something that is expected to revolutionize the long queues that usually wind around the area.

A jubilee year is to be characterized by prayer, forgiveness, and reconciliation – and preferably includes a pilgrimage. Over 30 million Catholics are expected to make a pilgrimage to the Vatican State in Rome during 2025.

For those who cannot travel, the Pope has had web cameras installed. One is inside St. Peter's Basilica, near the main altar and the tomb of Apostle Peter. Another is at the holy door of the sanctuary. The jubilee year begins when Pope Francis steps through this door on Christmas Eve – an act considered to symbolize the decision to follow Jesus.

In total, there are four holy doors in the Vatican, all of which are open during the jubilee year.

"Chat" in the Confessional

To load up for the festivities, the Vatican is also exhibiting no less than 125 nativity scenes on St. Peter's Square.

In parallel, experiments are being conducted with a Jesus avatar, which has been tested in a church in Switzerland, to be evaluated. During the autumn, over 900 visitors have spoken with an "AI-Jesus" via a screen in a confessional. The conversations have revolved around topics such as faith, morality, death, and sexuality, and have largely resulted in satisfied participants, according to the church and Lucerne University, which conducted the experiment together.

Behind the experiment lies curiosity about how AI can be used in religious contexts and people's trust in machines, writes AFP. The Pope has repeatedly praised the development of AI but simultaneously emphasized the importance of using technology ethically and responsibly.

The Pope lives in the Vatican State, the world's smallest independent state. It is located in the northwestern part of Italy's capital, Rome.

Originally, the Papal States had larger territories in central Italy, the so-called Church State. In 1870, the territory was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy – despite loud papal protests. The problem was solved in 1929 when the then-fascist government under Benito Mussolini entered into an agreement with the Pope. This created the Vatican State as a sovereign state.

Catholics see the Pope as the head of the Church and Jesus' representative on earth. Jesus' disciple Peter is counted by the Catholic Church as the first Pope.

The current Pope Francis was born in 1936 in Argentina. He trained as a chemist and has also studied literature and psychology. He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1969 and was Archbishop of Buenos Aires before being elected Pope in 2013. He took the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi. The latter founded the Franciscan Order, which, among other things, cared for lepers and the poor and reformed the Church.

Sources: Catholic Church, NE, and others

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Ukraine: Large drone and robot attack tonight

Ukraine: Large drone and robot attack tonight

Testimonies from Gaza: Children walk around without shoes

Testimonies from Gaza: Children walk around without shoes

Musk: Then the First Ship Lifts Off to Mars

Musk: Then the First Ship Lifts Off to Mars

Trump on the 24-hour promise: "I was a bit sarcastic"

Trump on the 24-hour promise: "I was a bit sarcastic"

Tech giants want to train AI on protected material

Tech giants want to train AI on protected material

Dissatisfaction culminates: Giant protest in Belgrade

Dissatisfaction culminates: Giant protest in Belgrade

Urination in the Hot Pot Gave Free Food to Thousands

Urination in the Hot Pot Gave Free Food to Thousands

New Power Outage Paralyzes Cuba

New Power Outage Paralyzes Cuba

Dog shoots owner in USA - "got stuck"

Dog shoots owner in USA - "got stuck"

Starmer: Putin is not serious about peace

Starmer: Putin is not serious about peace

Rescue of Stranded Astronauts Initiated

Rescue of Stranded Astronauts Initiated

The Senate Approves Budget – Prevents Shutdown

The Senate Approves Budget – Prevents Shutdown

Captain suspected of causing another person's death

Captain suspected of causing another person's death

Universities in the USA investigated for racism against whites

Universities in the USA investigated for racism against whites

British Man in Kenya Killed by President's Motorcade

British Man in Kenya Killed by President's Motorcade

Greenlandic party leaders on Trump: "Unacceptable"

Greenlandic party leaders on Trump: "Unacceptable"

UN: Russia has committed crimes against humanity

UN: Russia has committed crimes against humanity

Carney new Prime Minister in Canada

Carney new Prime Minister in Canada

G7 warns Russia – may introduce new sanctions

G7 warns Russia – may introduce new sanctions

Iraq: High-ranking IS leader killed

Iraq: High-ranking IS leader killed

Source: UN agency lays off every fifth employee

Source: UN agency lays off every fifth employee

Teenager sentenced to terror - became a Nazi online

Teenager sentenced to terror - became a Nazi online

New Attack in Bombarded Key City in Sudan

New Attack in Bombarded Key City in Sudan

Hamas: Release the Israeli-American Hostages

Hamas: Release the Israeli-American Hostages

Child dies after rape – protests in Bangladesh

Child dies after rape – protests in Bangladesh

Duterte in court in The Hague via video link

Duterte in court in The Hague via video link

Over 30 dead in cholera outbreak in Ethiopia

Over 30 dead in cholera outbreak in Ethiopia

Internal conflicts threaten the Tigray peace agreement

Internal conflicts threaten the Tigray peace agreement

Measles in Mexico – linked to outbreak in the USA

Measles in Mexico – linked to outbreak in the USA

EU sanctions extended - also against notorious oligarch

EU sanctions extended - also against notorious oligarch

Russian in Finland convicted of war crimes in Ukraine

Russian in Finland convicted of war crimes in Ukraine

Trump may cause Portugal to skip US planes

Trump may cause Portugal to skip US planes

The Alarm: One Million Myanmar Nationals Will Go Without Emergency Aid

The Alarm: One Million Myanmar Nationals Will Go Without Emergency Aid

Task: Wants to Move the People of Gaza to East Africa

Task: Wants to Move the People of Gaza to East Africa

Trump urges Putin: Spare Ukrainian lives

Trump urges Putin: Spare Ukrainian lives

Iran in China for urgent nuclear deal meeting

Iran in China for urgent nuclear deal meeting

Protested against Israel – may be deported by Trump

Protested against Israel – may be deported by Trump

Democrat leader wants to avoid shutdown in the USA

Democrat leader wants to avoid shutdown in the USA

Australia furious with American who stole wombat

Australia furious with American who stole wombat

Zelensky: Very difficult situation in Kursk

Zelensky: Very difficult situation in Kursk