There is a “prophetic challenge” facing the Church in today’s world with the rise of “digital, artificial” media, according to Bishop Erik Varden, who is conducting the Lenten spiritual retreat at the Vatican. Source: Crux.
The Norwegian convert is a Trappist monk serving as Bishop of Trondheim in his native Norway.
Pope Leo XIV chose Bishop Varden to lead the retreat, which is taking place in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican for the pontiff and leading members of the Roman curia. Pope Leo has stressed the changing technology of the 21st century since his election last year.
“It is a prophetic challenge, given how much so-called ‘education’ is now farmed out to digital, artificial media, while young people yearn to meet teachers who are worthy of trust, who can impart not only skills but wisdom,” Bishop Varden told the Vatican officials.
“An angelic encounter is always personal. It cannot be replaced by a download or a chatbot,” he added.
During his reflection, the monk-bishop spoke of St John Henry Newman, who “thought a lot about angels” and was recently proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Leo himself.
In his address to the Pope and curia, Bishop Varden said Newman envisaged the priest’s ministry “as angelic”.
“The priest is at home in this world, unafraid to go into dark woods in search of the lost. At the same time he keeps his mind’s eyes raised towards the Father’s face, letting its radiance illumine all present reality. Illumination is ever a twofold process: Intellectual and essential, sacramental and pedagogical,” Bishop Varden said.
He added Newman “invites us to rediscover the teacher, too, as angelic enlightener.”
“Angelic interventions are not always reassuring. The angels are not there to humour us in our caprices. In a popular prayer traceable to … Reginald of Canterbury, we ask our guardian angel to ‘enlighten, keep, govern, and guide’ us. These are hefty verbs. An angel is a guardian of holiness,” he said.
FULL STORY
A ‘chatbot’ can’t replace angels, Bishop Varden tells Pope Leo, Roman Curia (By Charles Collins, Crux)
