The Cardinal’s Message: Defending Humanity and Hope
One of the most significant opening moments of the conference was the presentation by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education. The cardinal emphasized that amid the current “technocratic paradigm” and the revolution in artificial intelligence (AI), Catholic universities must become “laboratories of hope.” His key message was that knowledge must not become a cold manipulation of reality; research and education must prioritize human dignity and ethics, ensuring that technology complements, rather than replaces, human thought.
Digital Transformation at Pázmány
In the conference’s second panel discussion, speakers explored the sustainability of universities in light of digitalization. In this session, Associate Professor Kristóf Iván shared the experiences of Pázmány Péter Catholic University. The central question of the panel was whether universities merely react to digital changes or are capable of actively shaping them in accordance with Christian values.
In his remarks, Kristóf Iván highlighted:
- The Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics as a test environment: The Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics serves as a testing ground for the university-wide implementation of AI, whether in terms of pedagogical methods or improving administrative efficiency.
- Innovative training programs: Particular emphasis was placed, among other things, on the postgraduate program “Applications of Artificial Intelligence” for non-engineers, launched in 2023, which helps professionals from various fields understand how to collaborate with AI.
- Ethical approach: The key message of his address was that although the “technological train has already left the station,” as a Catholic university, it is our duty to develop and advocate for a framework for the ethical use of AI, ensuring a delicate balance between technological advancement and individual freedom.
The General Assembly reaffirmed that the Catholic universities belonging to the FUCE network will play an active role in achieving the common goal of putting technological development at the service of human development and solidarity.
The General Assembly also provided an opportunity for consultations with partners closely collaborating with Pázmány Péter Catholic University, and for FUCE members to formulate the institutional framework for new cooperation proposals.
