Vatican Ventures into Virtual Voices: AI Translates Prayers at St. Peter’s
Technology has now reached the heart of the Vatican. From now on, people from around the world can participate in religious services at St. Peter’s Basilica without any language barriers. The Vatican authorities have launched an AI-powered live translation service. Reports say the initiative was covered by Engadget.
Through an AI tool named ‘Lara’, live translation will be available in 60 languages. The service has been launched in collaboration with Translated, a Spanish language service provider.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the chief priest of St. Peter’s Basilica, stated, “For centuries, St. Peter’s Basilica has been open to pilgrims from all countries and languages. By employing advanced technology to help understand the messages of worship, we aim to maintain the universality of the Catholic Church.”
Visitors to the Vatican can access this service by scanning a QR code on their mobile devices. No app download is necessary; translations will be available directly via the website in both audio and text formats.
Translated officials explained that their AI tool ‘Lara’ was developed using the expertise of over 500,000 professional translators, ensuring accurate and seamless translation.
The use of technology in this religious context has already sparked mixed reactions. Some see it as a modern touch to traditional worship, while others question the extensive application of technology in such sacred practices.
DBTech/BMT/OR
