In response to Pope Leo XIV’s recent remarks on the “immense potential” and complex challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Divine Mercy Crusade in the Archdiocese of Cebu is bringing digital technology into focus during the upcoming 28th Divine Mercy National Convention.
Inspired by the new pontiff’s comparison of AI to the Industrial Revolution, organizers have invited Atty. Ian Vincent Manticajon, a state university professor, to deliver a timely talk titled “Mediated Truth: Media Literacy As A Moral Responsibility.”
Manticajon teaches journalism, media literacy, and media law and ethics at the University of the Philippines Cebu.
Speaking to Radio Veritas Asia, Manticajon emphasized the urgent need for parents to understand how digital technology and AI are influencing children’s learning and interactions.
“Technological illiteracy is the new illiteracy,” he said. “Parents don’t need to master AI, but they must know how these tools function so they can guide their children in using technology responsibly.”
The two-day convention, set for May 24-25, 2025, at the UC-METC in Cebu City, carries the theme “Divine Mercy: The Last and Only Hope of Salvation.” The event will feature seven speakers in total and is open to the public.
Fr. Lucas Inoc, spiritual director of the Divine Mercy Apostolate Philippines for the Archdiocese of Cebu, praised the initiative, noting that it's encouraging to see Catholic lay movements addressing social issues brought by modern technology.
“I am pleased that our lay advocates are taking the challenges of the digital age seriously,” Inoc said. “This kind of awareness helps the faithful navigate a changing world while holding on to Gospel values.”
He added that he is eagerly anticipating Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming encyclical, which is expected to outline the Church’s teachings on digital technology and AI.
For more information on the Divine Mercy National Convention, stay tuned to updates from the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Divine Mercy Crusade.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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