“Preserving Human Faces and Voices” is the theme for the Australasian Catholic Press Association Conference to be held in New Zealand, from August 26-27.
The conference theme is focused on Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications.
“Safeguarding faces and voices ultimately means safeguarding ourselves. Embracing the opportunities offered by digital technology and artificial intelligence with courage, determination and discernment does not mean turning a blind eye to critical issues, complexities and risks,” Pope Leo XIV said.
In his first encyclical the pope added, “The risk of dehumanisation – of building a future that excludes God and reduces the other to a means – is an ancient and ever-new temptation that today takes on a technical guise.”
The ACPA conference and the awards dinner will be held at Crowne Plaza, Christchurch.
Cardinal John Dew, who was at the conclave to elect Pope Leo XIV, will be one of the conference session speakers, along with James Bergin, a Catholic expert on AI technology and Chelsea Houghton, a strategic communications and fundraising specialist .
Dunedin Bishop Michael Dooley will celebrate Mass prior to the awards dinner on August 27 at Nazareth House. Sinead Boucher, the owner and publisher of Stuff Group, is the dinner speaker.
ACPA president David Ahern said the conference’s focus on AI was timely.
“The Pope is providing important advice at a time of great social change. He is clearly concerned, as we all should be, about the pace of change and the impact AI is having on human relationships,” he said.
“The Pope’s communications statement and the release of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, warn of the dangers of ‘dehumanisation’ and should be heeded.
“The conference will interest many who work in media and communications in dioceses, parishes and Catholic charities. All are most welcome.”
The conference’s major sponsor is Catholic Development Fund.
For details on ACPA, visit https://acpa.asn.au/.
To register for the conference, including early-bird pricing, visit https://www.trybooking.com/DMVVZ
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