AI Ethics Dialogue Peddles Naturalism Under “Catholic” Banner

The cited article from EWTN News (February 23, 2026) reports on a dialogue in Brussels organized by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and European Future Talks. It quotes “Pope Leo XIV” using a tablet and features statements from COMECE adviser Friederike Ladenburger and Professor Philip McDonagh. The core warning is that faith-based voices risk marginalization as AI governance is shaped by “technical, commercial, and regulatory actors” alone. The article promotes ongoing dialogue, references the EU AI Act’s “high-risk” classifications, and aligns the initiative with the Vatican’s “Rome Call for AI Ethics” and the document *Antiqua et Nova*. It frames the ethical challenge in terms of “human dignity,” “democracy,” and “peace,” presenting the conciliar structures as legitimate partners for EU institutions under Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The underlying thesis is that the post-conciliar Church must assert its voice in the secular forum to prevent a purely technocratic AI future.