The Church in South Korea honored Vatican AI ethics adviser Fr. Paolo Benanti and other advocates for life on June 9, highlighting human dignity and the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence as Seoul prepares to host World Youth Day 2027.
The 20th Mystery of Life Awards, held at The Catholic University of Korea, recognized individuals and organizations whose work has advanced the protection of human life and the promotion of a culture of life through science, ethics, healthcare, and social action.
Benanti, a member of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, received the Achievement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences for his work on AI ethics and technology governance.
He serves as an adviser to the Holy See on artificial intelligence ethics, chairs the Italian government’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence for Information, and previously served on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.
In his acceptance remarks, Benanti reflected on the meaning of the award’s title in an era increasingly shaped by technological change.
“That word, mystery, signals something that does not yield to mere calculation, that cannot be reduced to data, that demands of us not only analysis, but reverence,” he said.
Warning against reducing human beings to data, Benanti said, “AI systems do not know how to see a person. They see patterns. They see correlations. They see behavioral signals and preference vectors.”
He emphasized that “technology is not destiny,” and said the dignity of human life must remain the standard by which technological developments are judged.
The awards ceremony was organized by the Committee for Life of the Archdiocese of Seoul and brought together Church leaders, academics, civic representatives, and government officials.
Among those present were Cardinal Andrew Soo-jung Yeom, archbishop emeritus of Seoul; Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung of Seoul, chairman of the Committee for Life; Bishop Job Yo-bi Koo, auxiliary bishop of Seoul and vice president of the committee; and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
In his address, Archbishop Chung thanked the recipients for their witness to the value of life and linked the mission of the awards to Seoul’s preparations for World Youth Day 2027.
“As we continue to prepare for World Youth Day Seoul 2027, we hope to share the value of life with future generations and to help spread throughout society a culture that protects human dignity,” Chung said.
He also expressed hope that the awards would deepen public appreciation for the sanctity of life.
“Through this award ceremony, I hope the value of life will be more widely shared and that a culture of respect for life will be further rooted in our society,” he said.
Prime Minister Kim said the protection of life is both a social and national responsibility, citing challenges facing Korean society.
“The issues most deeply considered by the current government, and most frequently discussed in Cabinet meetings, are industrial accidents, suicide, and public safety,” Kim said. “These cannot be addressed by systems alone.”
“Unless human dignity and a value system that respects life are firmly rooted, institutions alone cannot solve these problems,” he added.
Other recipients included Professor Won-Suk Chung of KAIST, who received the Achievement Award in Life Sciences for his contributions to research on neurodegenerative diseases; Professor Sujeong Kim of The Catholic University of Korea, who received the Encouragement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences for her work on care ethics in medical settings; and the Human Resource Development Foundation of India, which received the Encouragement Award in the Activity category for its work with Dalit communities and its commitment to human rights and human dignity.
Established in 2006 by the Committee for Life of the Archdiocese of Seoul, the Mystery of Life Awards seek to defend the dignity and value of human life and promote Catholic bioethics in society. Marking its 20th anniversary, this year’s awards highlighted issues the Seoul Church identified as among the most pressing challenges facing contemporary society, including artificial intelligence, advanced technology, medical research, care ethics, human rights, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
