Austrian Bishops Bar AI From Replacing Pastoral Care
At their Salzburg assembly, they require human oversight and diocesan AI officers so machines serve people, not sacraments or the confessional bond.
On November 12, 2026, at the close of their autumn plenary assembly in Salzburg, the Austrian Bishops’ Conference approved the country’s first binding framework on the use of artificial intelligence in the Catholic Church and its institutions. The order takes effect upon publication in the conference’s official gazette.
The text states that AI may be used in the celebration of sacraments, preaching, liturgy, or pastoral care only in a supporting role. “The replacement of human relationships, pastoral conversations, community, or rituals by AI is impermissible and is expressly rejected,” the bishops declare. The measure addresses ethical, legal, and societal questions raised by rapidly expanding systems while remaining oriented toward the Christian vision of the human person, the inviolable dignity of every individual, and respect for personal freedom. AI is to be directed toward truth, justice, and the common good.
Human Responsibility First
Archbishop Franz Lackner of Salzburg, president of the conference, said at a press conference in Salzburg that artificial intelligence now touches “ever more areas of life.” It must serve the human person, strengthen responsibility rather than replace it, and always remain subject to critical examination and human control.
Each Austrian diocese is required to appoint a person responsible for AI matters. A new nationwide working group will bring together those diocesan officers with experts in data protection, information technology, and theological ethics; the Austrian Conference of Religious will also take part. The framework builds on earlier Vatican guidance and on the work of a prior Austrian group led by Bishop Hermann Glettler of Innsbruck.
By drawing a clear line against the substitution of living pastoral presence, the bishops safeguard what the Church holds essential: that grace is mediated through persons, that preaching and the liturgy are acts of the Body of Christ, and that no algorithm can stand in for a shepherd who knows his flock. The order leaves room for careful technical assistance while insisting that the final word—and the personal encounter—remain human.