Franciscan Spirit Edmundo Reyes — Magnifica Humanitas: Navigating Al with Faith, Wisdom, and Franciscan Joy
In this episode, we dive into one of the most urgent conversations of our time: faith and artificial intelligence, which Pope Leo XIV just explored in his groundbreaking encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas.” What does this new encyclical teach us about AI and what it is not? What does it teach us about how to navigate the age of AI and Robotics? How can wisdom from this encyclical help us harness AI for mission? Our guest, Edmundo Reyes, dives into all this and more in this episode of Franciscan Spirit.
Edmundo Reyes is an award-winning producer and recognized leader in marketing, communications, fundraising, and public relations. His career has been dedicated to advancing evangelization through digital media, technology, and storytelling. He is the founder of Digital Continent, a Catholic media company telling stories of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful to make Christ known and loved in the digital culture. He serves as founder and executive producer of several acclaimed projects, including:
- Seeking Beauty with David Henrie, a new documentary series on art, culture, and faith, available on EWTN+ and EWTN.com
- Real+True, a digital apostolate under the patronage of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Evangelization, which unlocks the beauty and truth of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to the next generation.
- Based on a True Saint, a documentary series presented by The Augustine Institute that tells the stories of modern and soon-to-be saints through firsthand testimony.
- Revive Parishes, an online formation platform equipping parish leaders with practical tools for mission.
His work has been honored with multiple regional Emmy Awards, Catholic Media Association awards, and national nominations. Previously, he served as Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Detroit, where he led one of the most innovative communications teams in the Church and was twice recognized with the Father John Catoir Evangelization Award.
(00:00:01) Introduction
(00:02:25) Backstory: Faith & AI Project
(00:08:43) Reaction to Magnifica Humanitas
(00:12:21) How Do We Approach this Technology?
(00:15:35) Can AI Make Us More Human?
(00:20:55) Reflection No. 1
(00:28:02) Discerning AI
(00:43:22) Using AI to Slow us Down, Cause Friction, and Deepen Relationship
(00:54:34) Reflection No. 2: Becoming More Human
(01:00:28) Using AI For Mission, Attuning Our Hearts to Beauty
(01:09:17) Reflection No. 3: Beauty
(01:13:49) AI and its Impact on the Environment
(01:18:55) Structural Issues and Economic Interests
(01:23:39) The Desire to Be Known and Loved
(01:30:51) Conclusion