On December 16, 2024, the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State adopted, through Decree No. DCCII, Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence, which will enter into force on January 1, 2025. This founding text establishes the general principles governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within Vatican City State and the areas covered by the Lateran Treaty, defining AI as "the set of computational systems and models which, through automated processes, are capable of analyzing data, learning from it, making decisions and performing tasks that would normally require human intelligence."
The fundamental principles set forth in Article 3 establish that AI must be developed with respect for human dignity and the common good, following an anthropocentric approach. The text expressly provides that "artificial intelligence systems and models must be developed and applied while ensuring the security of Vatican City State, protection and confidentiality of personal data, non-discrimination of human beings, economic sustainability, and care for Creation." Vatican bodies must ensure transparency, proportionality, and ethical responsibility in the use of AI, while preserving human autonomy and decision-making power.
Article 4 enumerates strict prohibitions regarding the use of AI. It specifically prohibits "the use of an artificial intelligence system to draw general anthropological inferences with discriminatory effects on the individual" and "the use of an artificial intelligence system that uses subliminal manipulation techniques suitable for causing physical or psychological harm to the person or group of persons." The text also prohibits any use of AI that could compromise the security of Vatican State or the integrity of the Catholic Church.
Regarding information and data processing (Article 5), the Guidelines require that "circulation of information, data processing, and processing of personal data through the use of artificial intelligence shall not be detrimental to truthfulness, freedom of expression, impartiality, and completeness." Special attention is paid to the protection of biometric data and the clarity of information communicated to data subjects.
In the field of scientific research and healthcare (Article 6), the text encourages the use of AI to improve healthcare, while specifying that "artificial intelligence systems developed and applied in the field of scientific research and healthcare must not impair or limit the decision-making assessment of medical professionals." The text also imposes an obligation to inform patients about the use of AI systems in their care.
Copyright protection (Article 7) is subject to detailed regulation. The text stipulates that "the Governorate of Vatican City State is the exclusive owner of the right of paternity and rights of economic use over textual, musical, photographic, audiovisual and radio content and figurative arts created through the use of artificial intelligence" within its territory. An obligation to identify AI-generated content is established through the use of the acronym "AI."
Concerning cultural property (A Nousrticle 8), the Guidelines provide that "the development and application of artificial intelligence systems and models to the cultural property of Vatican City State must be carried out in accordance with the institutional purposes of the Governorate and without harming the integrity and preservation of the property itself." The text particularly regulates the use of AI in restoration activities, which must comply with internationally recognized methodological principles.
Regarding infrastructure and services (Article 9), the text authorizes the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services to use AI "in order to incentivize economic and environmental sustainability in the execution of infrastructure interventions and service delivery," while specifying that these systems "must not prejudice or restrict the decision-making evaluations of the individuals identified by the Administration as responsible for carrying out the activities."
These Guidelines constitute an interesting contribution to the reflection on AI ethics, bringing a unique spiritual perspective that enriches the international legal debate. They propose a normative framework which, while specific to Vatican State, offers jurists worldwide an inspiring approach, combining technological innovation with fundamental humanist values.