Catholic Church in Belarus Blesses AI-Generated Image of St. Carlo Acutis

A Catholic church in Belarus has blessed an AI-generated image of St. Carlo Acutis, who is recognized as the first Millennial saint. This act resembles the traditional blessing reserved for genuine icons.

The blessing ceremony took place at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Novolukoml, with Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz officiating. During the event, the clergy unveiled this new depiction, officially marking it as a permanent addition to the church. Reports indicate that the image was “consecrated,” a term signifying its exclusive purpose for prayer and worship of God.

This event is being described as a historic first for the Catholic Church, although it has stirred quite a bit of controversy. Pope Leo XIV has voiced his concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence in religious contexts, cautioning against its application in creating homilies or engaging in clerical tasks. He has stressed the significance of human artistry, asserting that genuine art reflects the human soul, unlike AI creations.

The AI-generated image portrays St. Carlo holding a laptop, symbolizing his legacy of documenting Eucharistic miracles through a website he developed.

Archbishop Kondrusiewicz, who recently retired from his role leading the Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev, used the occasion to emphasize the internet’s potential as a tool for spreading the Catholic faith. He remarked on the current state of online engagement, suggesting that what people seek there is not always holiness.

St. Carlo Acutis is the Church’s newest saint, canonized in September 2025, alongside St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Despite coming from a well-off family that wasn’t particularly religious, Acutis embraced faith early in life and sought to spread it using modern technology. He began developing a website at just 11 years old, completing it three years later to highlight instances of Eucharistic miracles, where consecrated bread appears to bleed or become flesh.

Acutis passed away in 2006 at the age of 15 after battling leukemia. Notably, he is recognized as the patron saint of the internet and the first Millennial saint.

The use of AI to craft an icon represents a departure from centuries of Catholic tradition, which holds that creating saint icons is a meditative form of prayer. This process traditionally requires artists to engage deeply in thought, prayer, and reflection on the life lessons of the saint. By utilizing a machine for creation, the spiritual element inherent in this artistic endeavor is bypassed.

Pope Leo has consistently advocated for spiritual guidance in dealing with AI throughout his leadership. He dedicated his first encyclical to this issue, warning about the dangers of dehumanization linked to AI advancements and drawing parallels to the Tower of Babel story. His earlier comments underscored the necessity of differentiating human art from machine-created images, emphasizing the distinct nature of human creativity.

Pope Leo has also cautioned clergy against relying on AI in their pastoral roles. He illustrated the importance of exercising human faculties, suggesting that neglecting them could lead to a decline in mental capacity.

As of now, the Pope has not made any comments regarding the recent developments in Belarus. He is currently recuperating after surgery that revealed lung cancer and will require further treatment. Meanwhile, the creation of the AI image has sparked significant debate within the global Catholic community, raising questions about the spiritual implications behind icon creation.

Father Matthew P. Schneider, a Roman Catholic priest, expressed his concerns on social media, stating that authentic sacred art must be of human origin, especially when considering the theological significance of icons.

Though this may be a first for the Catholic Church, the intersection of AI and religion is not entirely new. In fact, there are instances of AI being utilized in religious practices, such as the development of an AI avatar representing Jesus Christ, designed for users to interact with as a spiritual guide.