Metaverse (and our Foundation) at the Vicariate of Rome

Artificial intelligence and the Metaverse were the topics of the meeting on Wednesday 3 April at the Vicariate of Rome with Father Paolo Benanti. The religious man, a professor at the Gregorian University and one of the world’s leading experts on AI, was the protagonist of the concluding appointment of the course “Dal sito parrocchiale al Metaverso”, promoted by the Diocese of Rome in cooperation with Italian WebCatholics Association (Weca).

The course, which in the diocesan sphere sees the synergic commitment of the Office for Social Communications, the Office for Youth Pastoral Care and the Office for the Pastoral Care of Leisure Time, Tourism and Sport, began last 25 January. Participants included pastoral workers, including priests, religious, committed lay people, and volunteers. During the various meetings, the main digital communication tools at the service of pastoral work were analysed: from the parish website to WhatsApp and Telegram, from how to create a podcast to the correct use of images on the web, to the challenges of artificial intelligence and the Metaverse.

The meeting was introduced by greetings from Don Alfredo Tedesco, director of the Youth Pastoral Office, and Fabio Bolzetta, president of WeCA. Daniele Bruno, President of the John Paul II Foundation for Youth, recalled that on the occasion of the WYD in Lisbon last August, visors made of recycled cardboard were provided to those young people who were unable to travel to Portugal for various reasons. Thanks to these tools, they were able to virtually immerse themselves in the conference on the care of Creation. “The result of the day,” he said, “was the drafting of a manifesto delivered to Pope Francis on 3 August, when he met the young university students. From the document emerged the need and the will to use technology with prudence and with hope’.

Before the meeting, participants also had the opportunity to take a virtual tour of Jerusalem thanks to augmented reality visors.