Jea Nicole Jacot

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle addressed the widespread impact of disinformation and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the potential of digitalization for the Catholic Church, during a post-conclave conference held on May 9, with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David and Cardinal Jose Advincula.


"Hindi lang tayo inhabitant doon, nag-inhabit na sa atin ang digital world. May nakikita akong reach. I have to admit parang mayroong weight ang ganoong exposure,” said Tagle on the influence of social media.

During the days leading up to the papal conclave, a large wave of online disinformation and conspiracy theories spread, including a fake news report video on YouTube falsely claiming that Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle had been chosen as the new Pope.

“According to the rules, that was tantamount to excommunication. That will invalidate. Sino bang may gawa nito ang gustong ma-excommunicate ako?” he added, referring to the possible implication of the false information on him being hailed as the new pope. 

Tagle also cited Pope Francis' discussion on digital technology and the ethical use of artificial intelligence, in which he brought up to the late pope his past experiences with disinformation, specifically posts falsely advertising products using his image.

In a conference on ethical AI development organized by the Vatican,  Pope Francis expressed his concern over the risks of a “technocratic” future, saying that “no innovation is neutral.”

The late pope was not exempt from falling victim to AI-deepfake content, when a photo of him wearing an ankle-length white puffer coat went viral on social media platforms.

“Positive outcome [of artificial intelligence] will only be achieved if we show ourselves capable of acting responsibly and respect such fundamental human values as ‘inclusion,’ ‘transparency,’ ‘security,’ ‘equity,’ ‘privacy,’ and ‘reliability’,” Pope Francis said in his holy message on the 57th World Day of Peace, addressing the relationship between use of AI and establishing peace.

 Tagle also acknowledged the potential of the digital world for evangelization.

 “Hindi na man lahat gumagawa ng ganoong mali. I am always in contact with digital influencers, digital missionaries,” he expressed.

He briefly noted that European missionaries have taken the lead in digital evangelization, where they advocate for faithful dialogue online and teach courses on theology as a response to what the late Pope Francis described as part of a "paradigm shift" in missionary outreach.

Among the digital missionaries organized in the Philippines is the YouthPinoy, an organization of online missionaries under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission of Social Communications (CBCP-ECSC).

On May 8, the second day of the papal conclave, the College of Cardinals officially elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. He is the first pontiff from the United States.