Campus-Wide Discussion on Pope's Encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas
Tuesday evening, there were people with different views on the subject at hand. There were experts from different fields of study. There were faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students and various members of the campus community. Together, they were all united in one goal.
Conversation.
That was the objective organizers set out with when they drew plans for a University of San Diego forum on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.
In June, Pope Leo XIV published Magnifica Humanitas, an encyclical that comes in response to the rapidly shifting landscape of the technological world, particularly artificial intelligence. As the race to develop these tools escalates, the Pope implores their makers to be introspective and innovate in service of the public good; to put a renewed focus on human dignity, and – as the letter’s subtitle says – to “safeguard the human person.”
Tuesday’s forum brought together USD faculty members from a wide-range of disciplines – theology, philosophy, political science and more – to discuss excerpts from Magnifica Humanitas, and what they tell us about Pope Leo XIV’s vision for the Church and Catholic social doctrine.
“So much of the conversation around artificial intelligence is the capabilities or ramifications of it, but what the Pope is drawing our attention to is the impact on the human being. I think at a university, that’s something we ought to be thinking about. Especially at a Catholic university,” said Michael Lovette-Colyer, PhD, vice president of mission integration.
The discussion was driven by the different backgrounds of the speakers.
Victor Carmona, PhD, spoke about how the document embodies and advances Catholic social teachings, along the lines of leading with love, part of USD’s vision statement. Brian Clack, PhD, talked about the encyclical’s emphasis on finding truth in a confusing information age. Noelle Norton, PhD, discussed the political ramifications of the document, and the passages that focused on inequalities that could be exacerbated by AI. Darby Vickers, PhD, examined the nuances of AI use, and how educators could approach it and adapt. Julia Cantzler, PhD, JD, drew comparisons between Leo’s encyclical and that of his predecessor, Francis’ Laudato Si’, and how they seem in conversation with one another. Finally, Darren Kew, PhD, pointed to passages about diplomacy and dialogue, and how that lays out a vision for a future of global cooperation rather than competition.
The event was the result of a collaboration between the Humanities Center, Mission Integration and the College of Arts and Sciences, reflecting the aim of an interdisciplinary discussion.
“The best way of addressing any topic is to do it from multiple perspectives. That’s what we hope to get by having people from different backgrounds here,” said Clack, A. Vassiliadis Distinguished Director of the Humanities Center. “People reading it from their own perspective, within their own discipline, and engaging in conversation with all the people we saw here today. Real conversational teamwork about a vital matter for all of us. That’s the model.”
Each panelist gave their perspective on different aspects of the encyclical that intersected with their expertise, but the forum was interactive as well. Following remarks from the panel, audience members were encouraged to provide questions or comments. What followed was a lively discussion involving students and faculty from across campus that would have gone longer, if not for the time constraints of the event. Organizers were pleased with the turnout and the engagement the event fostered, and it will be far from the last on the subject. Both Clack and Lovette-Colyer signaled toward more programming on AI and Magnifica Humanitas throughout the academic year. But they don’t want organized events to be where these discussions begin and end.
Attendees were given a free printout of the encyclical, an intentional move by organizers who wanted people to have something tangible to engage with, specifically for a subject that’s so heavily rooted in technology. They also encouraged attendees to read the handout, and strike up conversations with friends and family, to spark more discussion outside the walls of the theatre.
More conversations to get people thinking. More dialogue to get people connecting.