On November 12, the high-level conference “The Dignity of Children and Adolescents in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” took place in Rome, promoted by Fondazione Child in collaboration with the Child Dignity Alliance.
The event brought together experts, institutions, international organizations, academics, representatives of the Pontifical Academy, the Pontifical Gregorian University, religious communities, and companies to discuss the protection of children in an increasingly complex digital environment and its risks.
A key outcome of the conference was the signing of a Declaration of Intent, reaffirming every child’s right to live, grow, and dream in safety, including in the digital age. The document calls on and brings together governments, institutions, companies, and citizens to build together a new human pact for the digital era, grounded in the dignity, protection, and well-being of children and adolescents.
The Declaration is structured around six pillars of action, representing a shared commitment to a more ethical and human-centered technological future:
1. Protection and safety – preventing all forms of online abuse and exploitation of children, including through artificial intelligence.
2. Education and empowerment – promoting digital and emotional awareness among children, parents, and educators.
3. Ethical and transparent technology – supporting AI rooted in human values such as responsibility, fairness, and compassion.
4. Global governance and accountability – strengthening international cooperation and the protection of children’s rights.
5. Research and innovation for good – directing technology toward children’s wellbeing, health, inclusion, and education.
6. Interreligious and intergenerational solidarity – bringing together voices from different faiths and generations in a shared moral commitment.
On November 13, the Declaration was formally presented to Pope Leo XIV during the audience with conference participants in the Sala Clementina of the Vatican. In his address, the Holy Father highlighted that:
“Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to manipulation through AI algorithms that can influence their decisions and preferences. It is essential that parents and educators be aware of these dynamics, and that tools be developed to monitor and guide young people’s interactions with technology. Only by taking an educational, ethical and responsible approach can we ensure that artificial intelligence serves as an ally, not a threat, in the growth and development of children and adolescents."
At a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping human life in profound ways, the Declaration reminds us that this is not only a technological moment - it is a moral one.
“We are called to reflect on what we value and how we will preserve the dignity of every human being, especially children. Safe and trustworthy AI should be considered a right: a revolutionary tool to empower the youngest and protect their well-being”. - Prof. Ernesto Caffo, President of Telefono Azzurro.
