The Bishop of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota, United States), Mons. Robert Barron, founder of the Catholic Ministry Word On Fire, warned about the proliferation of false videos created with artificial intelligence (AI) that circulate on social networks supplanting their identity.
“The Internet presence of these videos generated by artificial intelligence that appears to be mine, but that are not, is becoming increasingly difficult”, Denounced the prelate in a message released on August 20 in Your official accounts on social networks.
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Mons. Barron said that a woman a few months ago he mentioned an alleged altercation in a Chicago restaurant, which was actually a false video. “I replied: ‘I have not been in a restaurant in Chicago in about five years.’ Well, it turned out that it was one of these silly videos generated with AI,” he said.
He also recalled another case in which Rome was allegedly summoned by Pope Leo XIV for “high -level conversations.” The bishop clarified: “I met Pope León once, a couple of weeks ago in Rome, and we shared it on our social networks. He gave him his hand and he smiled at me. That was my only contact with him. I am not being summoned to Rome for high -level conversations.”
A video even circulated in which it was attributed to advise how to “expel demons from a toilet.” In this regard, he said: “All this is ridiculous. And I think, if they stop for a moment, they can notice the difference between an authentic video of mine and one of these false.”
The bishop of Winona-Rochester warned that this phenomenon is not harmless: “They are scammers. What they do is make money with these videos because they monetize them with ads. So it is not simply innocent fun. Is damaging my reputationbut also harming people who are scammed. ”
Given this, he urged the faithful not to be fooled: “Do not take those nonsense. They do not see them. Look for my videos on my official YouTube channelin the official Word On Fire channels, where they will see a blue brand next to my profile name. Look for that: that is the sign that the video is really mine. ”
Finally, he called to use common sense: “When you see those ridiculous images, clearly generated by computer, and supposedly listen to me about something crazy, I hope you have the sense of saying: ‘Look, that is not really Bishop Barron speaking.”
“The problem is growing more and more, and I want them to know and do what they can to fight it. God bless you, ”he concluded.
León XIV’s concern about the ethical use of AI
Since the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has expressed a particular concern for the ethical use of AI. On June 7, the Pontiff stressed the “urgent need“To carry out” a serious reflection and a permanent debate on the ethically intrinsic dimension of AI, as well as on its responsible governance. “
A month later, in his message to the participants of the summit AI for Good 2025held in Geneva (Switzerland), recalled that “although the responsibility for the ethical use of AI systems begins with those who develop, manage and supervise, Those who use them also share this responsibility”.
In Your letterthe Pope urged to promote “regulatory frameworks centered on the human person” and one “adequate ethical management”Of the technologies of AI both at local and global level.
Diego López Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I work as a digital journalist. I started my career in the newspaper El Comercio in Peru. In 2016, I began as editor in ACI Press and I perform as a web editor since 2018. From 2024, I write the Newsletter for Social Media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.