We, the members of the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA), met for the 31st National Convention of Christian Journalists on 19-20 September 2026 at Paalanaa Bhavana, Benson Town, Bengaluru.

The theme of our Convention was 'Humanity, Dignity, and Truth: Journalism without Compromise in the Age of AI.' Artificial Intelligence (AI) overwhelms us today! There is no doubt about that. The Convention provided us with an opportunity not merely to deal with a complex and challenging reality, but also to explore practical possibilities to address legitimate concerns that arise from AI.

At the heart of our deliberations was Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, 'Magnifica Humanitas' (Magnificent Humanity): On Safeguarding the Human Person in the time of Artificial Intelligence, dated May 15, 2026. In it, he says that it is our responsibility to safeguard humanity, ensure the dignity of the human person and promote truth and freedom. He cautions us about the pitfalls of AI and provides us with a roadmap for the way ahead. We are called, he asserts, to negate the culture of power by building the civilisation of love.

We vibe with him when he says, "Our first task is neither to demonise nor idolise technological tools, but to utilise them based on a fundamental principle, namely that truth is a common good and not the property of those with power or influence. We must therefore promote an ecology of communication."

On the role and responsibility of Christian journalists, he says, "regarding social and cultural aspects, this requires a strengthening of intermediary organisations, serious journalism and forums for debate, where reasoned argumentation and verification carry greater weight than immediate reaction… Christian communities, too, are called to commit themselves to transparency in communication and to the honest pursuit of facts."

The theme of our Convention was meticulously and painstakingly dealt with by a range of speakers, with the depth of their experience and expertise. We were challenged by their incisive and insightful sharing. They highlighted some of the serious issues which both India and the world face today. They were clear that despite the tremendous strides of AI, journalists have no option but to take the side of humanity, dignity, and truth at all times.

A book on the theme was also released during the Convention. Some twenty media experts have articulated their concerns and opinions in it. This valuable edition could serve as a handbook for serious journalism. A close reading of these articles will reveal the urgency of the daunting task ahead for every authentic media professional. In keeping with the ICPA tradition, we also honoured five pathbreaking media personnel with our prestigious annual awards.

For the 60th World Day of Social Communications, which we observed on May 17, 2026, Pope Leo had the theme 'Preserving Human Voices and Faces.' This was his first message for this special day, and he emphatically stated that, "Another major challenge posed by these emerging systems is that of bias, which leads to acquiring and transmitting an altered perception of reality. AI models are shaped by the worldview of those who build them and can, in turn, impose these ways of thinking by reproducing the stereotypes and prejudices present in the data they draw on. A lack of transparency in algorithmic programming, together with the inadequate social representation of data, tends to trap us in networks that manipulate our thoughts and prolong and intensify existing social inequalities and injustices." Further adding that "The task laid before us is not to stop digital innovation, but rather to guide it and to be aware of its ambivalent nature. It is up to each of us to raise our voice in defense of human persons, so that we can truly assimilate these tools as allies. This alliance is possible, but needs to be based on three pillars: responsibility, cooperation and education."

We draw our hope and inspiration from the concluding words of Pope Leo's message: 'We need faces and voices to speak for people again. We need to cherish the gift of communication as the deepest truth of humanity, to which all technological innovation should also be oriented."
We strongly urge all to study, internalise and actualise Pope Leo's encyclical and his message for Communications Day 2026.

The road ahead in this age of AI is not going to be an easy one; we have no doubt that there will be complexities, challenges, and concerns. We pledge, however, to ensure that our journalism will be without compromise, where humanity, dignity and truth are non-negotiables! We do so with compassion, courage, and commitment!