Message to celebrate the 57th World Day of Peace

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The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, sent the following message to His Holiness, Pope Francis:

«Your Holiness,

the theme of the 57thWorld Day of Peace, "Artificial Intelligence and peace", calls for a reflection on the significance of new technologies, which stand out owing to their disrupting potential and their ambivalenteffects.

We have come to a crucial crossroads. Artificial Intelligence's speedy progress is increasingly affecting individuals, human activities, our interactions with other people and with the environment. Nonetheless, only recently has this topic joined the publicdebate and its impact on society is still very underestimated. It is therefore particularly appropriate for the international community to start an open and inclusive debateon the subject, studying in depth our relationship with these extraordinary innovations and with the modalities required to govern them.

What is at stake here is the very possibility of giving the whole world a future of peaceful coexistence and ensuring a development that is truly humane and all-encompassing. But, above all else, even the dignity of all women and men depends on this. A dignity based, among other things, on the unique character that the human being carries in the context of Creation. Indeed, human intelligence - unlike the artificial one - in enlightened by conscience; together, intelligence and conscience express a unique creative capacity in the sphere of scientific research. As you, Your Holiness, point out in your message, this makes man capable of increasing - while never depleting- his knowledgeof nature, thus interacting with it through new and ever more advanced modalities.

The forms of artificial intelligence may significantly boost prosperity, benefitting a number of fields.But these very systems could further raise the barriers of inequality should they be controlled by just a handful of people, thereby consolidating phenomena such as marginalisation and further undermining the cohesion of our communities. Moreover, we cannot ignore the perils associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence for devising increasingly destructive weapon systems and for fuelling hatred and intolerance. We already see this shadow stretching overthe ongoing conflicts, in contexts such as the incessantRussian aggression against Ukraine and the hostilities in the Middle East, cause of unbearable pain and deaths.

The World Day of Peace urges us to monitor and act to make sure that the production and use of new technologies does not follow the logic of violence. This is a vital call, for this fuse may triggernew tension and clashes.

That is not what our planet needs!

And that's definitely not what the younger generations need. On the other hand, they must be encouraged to have hope and faith in the future. They do not deserve a world where oppression and exclusion gain the upper hand.

The different forms of Artificial Intelligence pit us against great opportunities and huge risks. Hence, we need global governance mechanisms capable of making sure that the technological evolution serves and is controlled by human beings, not the other way round.Theuse of the several forms of Artificial Intelligence mustbe mainly based on the value of peace and justice in the world, so as to ensure prosperity and wellbeing for all.

I therefore fully support and join your call, Your Holiness, for the new, powerful technologies to be humanised, thereby serving the common good and not becoming a mere instrument of vested interests. In this way, they can favour fraternity and care for the planetwhile looking to a future of inclusion, peace and real development.

It is with this very spiritthatItaly will continue to work.Even ahead of the important responsibilities it will take on in 2024- starting with the Presidency of the G7, a forum that will address the topic of Artificial Intelligence with great care.

I thank you for the message you addressedto the faithful and to all women and men of good will on the 57thWorld Day of Peaceand I once again extend to you my most sincere and affectionate wishes for the new year».