Top Stories 26/04/08 Seoul archdiocese plans AI-integrated services for Catholics

[성기화 요셉]

Initiative inspired by Saint Carlo Acutis, who used technology to promote devotion to the Holy Eucharist

AI apps are seen on a user’s mobile phone. (Photo: Unsplash)

By UCA News reporter

Published: April 08, 2026 11:45 AM GMT

Updated: April 08, 2026 11:59 AM GMT

The Seoul archdiocese in South Korea has announced plans to revamp its information services to better integrate with Artificial Intelligence (AI) services, drawing inspiration from Saint Carlo Acutis.

The initiative titled Carlo Project is led by the archdiocese’s Information Technology Office to prepare for future pastoral environments and the AI era.

Father Kim Kwang-doo, director of the archdiocesan technology office, emphasized that the project will prepare the Korean Church to create AI-based services capable of “independently providing information.”

For AI-powered information management and dissemination, “data organization is essential,” Kim said while adding that “making these preparations is a key task.”

The project has drawn inspiration from teenage Saint Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), who died of leukemia at the age of 15, and was known for his devotion to the Eucharist and for using digital media to promote Catholic devotion.

The archdiocese currently operates multiple information systems, including its news service, parish management systems, diocesan management systems, and the websites and servers of various departments and institutions, resulting in fragmented data.

It stated that its data on activities such as catechism, volunteer work, and participation in pastoral programs are not integrated with other systems, thereby limiting the provision of efficient service to the faithful.

The project, which will launch by May this year, is envisioned in two phases to integrate AI agents and all archdiocesan data, providing a holistic service for the faithful.

After the launch in May, the archdiocese-appointed consultants will speak to the faithful, and based on the results, they will start building an integrated database and renovating the archdiocese-run Good News website between 2027 and 2028.

The Good News site was founded in 1998 and is slated to celebrate 30 years of service for the faithful.

The initiative also aims to promote the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day (WYD), which Pope Leo XIV is slated to attend.

It will also provide online support programs and promote the WYD “1 billion Rosary prayers” campaign.

The archdiocese said it aims to overhaul its administrative systems from 2029 to 2031, which forms the second phase of the project.

*This is a translated and edited version of the report that was first published by the Catholic Times of Korea on April 8, 2026, and has been republished with permission.