Italian priest Paolo Benanti wins Seoul award for AI ethics leadership, urging protection of human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.
Newsroom (10/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) The Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul has awarded Italian Franciscan priest, theologian, and AI ethics advisor Paolo Benanti one of its most prestigious honors, recognizing his leadership in navigating the moral challenges of artificial intelligence.
Benanti received the Achievement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences at the 20th Mystery of Life Awards Ceremony held on June 9 at The Catholic University of Korea. The annual awards, established in 2006, aim to promote Catholic bioethics and uphold the dignity of human life in society.
The ceremony brought together prominent religious and political figures, including Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul, who chairs the Seoul Archdiocesan Committee for Life, and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. Also present were Cardinal Andrew Soo-jung Yeom, the retired Archbishop of Seoul, and Auxiliary Bishop Job Yo-bi Koo.
Ethics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Benanti, who serves as an advisor to the Vatican on artificial intelligence and chairs the Italian government’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence for Information, has emerged as a leading global voice on the ethical governance of emerging technologies. He is also a former member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.
In his acceptance speech, Benanti emphasized the philosophical and spiritual challenges posed by AI, warning against a purely data-driven understanding of human life.
“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, reflecting on the theme of the awards.
He underscored the limitations of machine intelligence in grasping the fullness of human existence.
“AI systems do not know how to see a person. They see patterns. They see correlations. They see behavioral signals and preference vectors,” Benanti explained.
Framing technology as a tool rather than a determining force, he urged policymakers and technologists alike to anchor innovation in ethical principles.
“Technology is not destiny,” he said, adding that the dignity of human life must remain the “measure by which every technological choice is judged.”
Broader Recognition Across Disciplines
The Mystery of Life Awards also recognized contributions in science, healthcare, and social activism. Professor Won-Suk Chung of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology received the Achievement Award in Life Sciences for his research into neurodegenerative diseases.
Meanwhile, Professor Sujeong Kim from the Catholic University of Korea’s College of Nursing was honored with an Encouragement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences for advancing care ethics in medical settings.
In the activity category, India-based Human Resource Development Foundation was recognized for its advocacy on behalf of Dalit communities and its commitment to human rights and human dignity.
Recipients of Achievement Awards received a plaque in the name of Archbishop Chung along with a prize of 100 million won (approximately US$65,720), while Encouragement Award winners received 30 million won.
A Shared Responsibility to Protect Life
In his remarks, Archbishop Chung praised the awardees for their dedication to affirming the value of life in their respective fields.
“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 Min-seok echoed these sentiments, framing the protection of life as both a moral and civic imperative.
“Protecting life is not only a religious concern but also a national and social responsibility,” he stated.
Highlighting pressing societal issues such as industrial accidents, suicide, and public safety, Kim stressed that policy solutions alone are insufficient.
“Unless human dignity and a value system that respects life are firmly rooted, institutions alone cannot solve these problems,” he added.
Navigating the Future
The recognition of Paolo Benanti signals the growing urgency of ethical leadership in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. As governments, religious institutions, and global organizations grapple with the implications of AI, figures like Benanti represent an emerging consensus: that technological progress must be guided by enduring human values.
The Seoul Archdiocese’s decision to honor Benanti underscores a broader effort to ensure that debates around AI remain grounded in respect for the irreducible dignity of human life—an idea that, as Benanti suggested, resists even the most advanced forms of computation.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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