Bishop Malcolm Sequeira Calls Asian Communicators to Fearless Evangelization, Rooted in Jesus, Not AI

Reflecting on Saint Paul’s exhortation to "put on the armor of God," Bishop Malcolm Sequeira of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amravati, India, cautioned Asian Catholic communicators against relying solely on artificial intelligence, urging them instead to remain anchored in Jesus Christ.

Delivering the homily during the morning Mass on the second day of the FABC Office of Social Communication (FABC-OSC) Assembly, Bishop Sequeira emphasized that technology must serve as a tool rather than a spiritual shield.

“The temptation today is to make artificial intelligence our armor,” Bishop Sequeira told delegates gathered in the chapel at St. Jose Villa in Macau. “But Saint Paul clearly invites us to surrender and be rooted in Jesus Christ. Stand in truth all the time. Be righteous all the time when you use these modern tools to communicate Christ in the age of AI.”

The morning Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Sequeira and concelebrated by Bishop Leandro Maria Alves of Baucau, East Timor, alongside Asian bishops, priests, and lay communication delegates.

The October 27–31 gathering brings together Catholic media leaders from across the continent under the theme, “Magnifica Humanitas and the Synodal Ways of Evangelization in Asia: Communicating Christ in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Connecting Asia’s digital future with its rich missionary history, Bishop Sequeira highlighted the upcoming 450th anniversary of the Diocese of Macau. He noted that while communication tools and technologies continually evolve over centuries, the core message of the Gospel remains unchanged.

“For 2,000 years, the Church has integrated the tools of its era to proclaim the Gospel,” he noted. “Time changes, tools change, but the message remains forever.”

Acknowledging the anxiety and confusion many church communicators face when navigating rapid digital transformation, robotics, and AI, the prelate urged participants not to succumb to fear. Drawing from the Gospel reading, he pointed to Jesus’ fearless demeanor when warned of threats to His life, reminding delegates that Christ is both the messenger and the message itself.

“Be assured. Be fearless. Do not panic,” Bishop Sequeira exhorted, recalling Jesus’ promise in the Gospel of John that the Holy Spirit will instruct and guide the faithful. “We do not have all the answers; we are simply searching. But the Holy Spirit will teach us all things.”

The continental assembly includes spiritual conversations, workshops, and discernment sessions aimed at guiding the Asian Church in forming grounded digital missionaries capable of utilizing modern communication platforms faithfully and ethically.