The Holy See is embracing artificial intelligence to enhance accessibility during religious ceremonies. A new system providing simultaneous translations in 60 languages has been rolled out for participants at Holy Masses in the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, through a collaboration with Translated, a specialized language solutions company.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, O.F.M. Conv., who serves as Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, commented in an official release: 'For centuries, Saint Peter’s Basilica has opened its doors to believers from all corners of the globe and diverse languages. By offering a resource that enables broader comprehension of the liturgical texts, we aim to fulfill the Catholic Church's core purpose as a truly global institution.' He added: 'This partnership with Translated brings me great satisfaction. During this milestone anniversary year, we approach innovation thoughtfully and with spiritual insight, trusting that human creativity, when aligned with faith, can foster greater unity.'
Tourists and pilgrims visiting the site can simply scan a QR code to obtain instant audio and written translations of the service content. The feature operates directly through a browser without the need to download any application.
This innovation is powered by Lara, an advanced AI translation platform that Translated unveiled earlier in 2024. The company states that Lara incorporates the nuanced expertise equivalent to more than 500,000 professional translators who are native speakers.