Prominent Italian American attorney George Bochetto says he has been appointed to take part in a Vatican initiative examining the relationship between the Catholic Church and artificial intelligence, bringing an Italian American voice into one of the most important technological debates of the coming years.
According to Bochetto, Pope Leo XIV has made artificial intelligence a priority and wants the Church to have a meaningful role in discussions over how the technology develops and how it affects society.
“The Pope has made it a priority that the Catholic Church have a real voice in how artificial intelligence is developed, so that AI serves humanity instead of undercutting it,” Bochetto said.
He said a commission of cardinals has been formed to lead the effort and that several Italian Americans have been selected to interact with American AI developers, reflecting the central role the United States is expected to play in shaping the technology.
Bochetto is a nationally known Philadelphia trial and appellate attorney whose career has included appearances before the U.S. Supreme Court and cases involving free speech, commercial litigation and constitutional questions. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 1975 and Temple University School of Law in 1978, and served as Pennsylvania State Boxing Commissioner from 1995 to 2002.
He is also deeply involved in the Italian American community. Bochetto serves as National Counsel for the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, a national coalition representing dozens of Italian American groups.
In recent years, he has become particularly prominent for representing Italian American organizations in legal battles involving Christopher Columbus monuments and Columbus Day, including cases in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio.
His new Vatican role would therefore create an unusual bridge among Rome, the Italian American community and the American technology sector as the Church develops its approach to AI.
