An Indonesian bishop has urged Catholics to ensure that technology serves as a channel of God’s love rather than a source of division, hatred, and manipulation in the digital world.
Amid the growing “digital noise,” Bishop Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo, chair of the Social Communications Commission of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI), encouraged Catholic communicators to enter a “space of silence” and reflection as they respond to rapid technological change.
Communication technologies, the internet, and artificial intelligence (AI) have become integral parts of daily life. While the Catholic Church does not reject these developments, the bishop said technology should be viewed not merely as a technical tool but as a means of presenting God’s loving presence and voice to the world.
Quoting the message of Pope Leo XIV, he said communication should become a channel for proclaiming love, truth, and fraternity.
“Do not merely become users of technology. Technology must present the face of God’s love to the world,” Bishop Utomo said on May 27 during the 13th National Social Communications Celebration in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
The gathering, hosted by the Archdiocese of Pontianak from May 26 to 31, formed part of the Church’s observance of the 60th World Day of Social Communications and brings together participants from dioceses across Indonesia to discuss faith, ethics, and emerging technologies.
As keynote speaker at a national seminar titled “Grounding the Pope’s Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications 2026,” Bishop Utomo called on communications workers to protect the human face and voice in an increasingly digital environment.
“Not only should the Church become a safe and sacred space, but our social media spaces must also become safe and holy spaces, not places that provoke hatred. Technological progress must become a pillar for protecting human dignity,” he said.
The Church encourages people to remain authentic without rejecting technology. Catholics, he said, should not accept falsehoods blindly but remain critical when confronted with deepfakes and digital manipulation.
In the same forum, information technology expert Prof. Richardus Eko Indrajit stressed that AI should remain a tool and never replace human beings.
AI, he said, should support encounters between people rather than substitute for them.
“The human face is an icon of God—it is sacred. Human faces and voices should not be falsified because each person is unique and irreplaceable, unless permission is granted for a good purpose,” Eko said.
During his presentation, he demonstrated a short AI-generated video showing a fictional podcast conversation between himself and Pope Leo XIV. He said such content should only be used with permission from the Vatican and should not be distributed freely.
Discussions during the gathering also focused on the impact of digital culture on young people.
Frans Kristi Adi warned about the tendency of young people to seek virality and appear “cool” on social media, often relying on AI to support that image.
“We may appear warm on social media while becoming cold in real life,” he said, reminding participants that AI can never replace the human conscience.
Local influencer F. Deliana Winki encouraged young people to present their authentic selves rather than false realities online.
She said she built her personal identity around the sape’, a traditional Dayak string instrument known as “the voice of the forest” and deeply rooted in Dayak culture.
“Trust in God in every effort. I reached the Vatican because of God’s blessing. Every person is unique,” Delly said.
In a separate session for Catholic fathers, senior Indonesian singer Lisa A. Riyanto emphasized the role of parents in preserving family relationships amid rapid technological change.
“Simple habits such as eating together, checking in through family WhatsApp groups when apart, and making time for direct conversations help preserve warmth within the family,” said the singer of the classic song Terserah Kasih.
She also encouraged fathers to continue engaging their children through traditional games and direct interaction rather than allowing technology to dominate family life.
“Communication conducted only through social media often creates misunderstandings because tone and meaning can be interpreted differently. Direct interaction remains the key to warmth in family life,” she said.
