Pakistan Church Marks World Communications Day with Focus on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
The National Commission for Social Communications in Pakistan organized a conference in Lahore on May 15 to mark the 60th World Communications Day.
By RVA Urdu News Service | May 17, 2026
The Catholic Church in Pakistan marked the 60th World Communications Day on May 15 with a conference in Lahore, northeastern Pakistan, highlighting the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence and digital media.
The event, organized by the National Commission for Social Communications, was held at Saint Anthony Hall and brought together priests, religious, journalists, media professionals, seminarians, teachers, and youth representatives from different faith communities.
Fr. Joseph Shehzad, director of the Catholic Bible Commission, chaired the program.
Fr. Qaisar Feroz, secretary of the National Commission for Social Communications, presented the message of Leo XIV for World Communications Day through a multimedia presentation. He said the pope emphasized that human voices and faces are sacred expressions of human dignity and must be protected in an age increasingly shaped by digital technology and artificial intelligence.
“The Holy Father calls on society to protect human identity and dignity in the digital world,” Fr. Feroz said, adding that communication should serve the common good rather than manipulation or polarization.
Archbishop Joseph Arshad, Chairman of the Nation Commission for Social Communications, addressed the gathering online from the Vatican, where he is currently participating in the bishops’ Ad Limina visit.
Archbishop Arshad said Pope Leo’s message highlights the importance of authentic human presence in an increasingly automated world.
“Machines can never replace genuine human relationships,” he said. “Artificial intelligence must remain at the service of humanity and be guided by ethical responsibility.”
He also stressed the importance of communication training within the Church in Pakistan, saying priests, religious, and lay Catholics need formation in media and digital communication to effectively share the Gospel and Church teachings.
The archbishop noted that the commission regularly organizes workshops and training programs to strengthen responsible communication within the Church and wider society.
In his address, Fr. Joseph Shehzad compared the attraction of artificial intelligence to the biblical account of the tree in the Garden of Eden, cautioning that technology, if misused, can distance people from moral responsibility and human values.
He urged participants to exercise discernment so that technological development does not undermine human identity or ethical judgment.
Among those attending the conference were Catholic and Muslim journalists, television professionals, editors, and religious leaders from across Pakistan.
At the conclusion of the event, organizers distributed posters and booklets related to World Communications Day to promote awareness about ethical communication and responsible media use.
Published in: https://www.rvasia.org/asian-news/pakistan-church-marks-world-communications-day-focus-ethics-and-artificial-intelligence