Pentecost, painting by Serafino Cesaretti (1848), the original altarpiece is in the church Regina degli Apostoli in Rome.

At Eucharistic Rosary Congresses, we believe that sacred art must reflect the truth, beauty, and dignity of our Catholic faith. While artificial intelligence has its place in certain creative projects, it cannot replace the unique, prayerful, and deeply human act of creating sacred images. For this reason, we do not use AI-generated images to depict Our Lord, Our Lady, or any of the saints in our materials.

Pope St. John Paul II, in his Letter to Artists (1999), reminds us that every true work of art is “a unique and unrepeatable reflection of the human soul,” a participation in God’s own creative work. He wrote that “the divine Artist passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom, calling him to share in his creative power.” This “sharing” is an act of relationship between Creator and creature, something no machine can imitate.

Sacred art in the Catholic tradition has always been more than decoration. It is an act of faith, born from prayer, and often offered as a form of devotion. Iconographers, painters, and sculptors through the centuries have infused their work with personal sacrifice and love for God. When we behold a sacred image, we are not only seeing a likeness of a holy person; we are encountering the fruit of an artist’s contemplation of divine mysteries. AI, by contrast, lacks the soul, prayerfulness, and devotion that give sacred art its depth and authenticity.

Christianity is an incarnational faith. God became flesh, entering into human history, so our depictions of Him and His saints must also be rooted in the human experience. AI-generated art, while visually convincing, is ultimately mechanical and detached from the reality of human life. It is an imitation of creativity, not an act of creation.

There is also the matter of theology. Sacred art is a form of catechesis. It teaches and reinforces the truths of the faith. An algorithm cannot discern theological nuance or safeguard against subtle errors. Without careful oversight, AI images could unintentionally present depictions that are theologically inaccurate or even contrary to the faith.

The Church’s artistic heritage is a treasure built over centuries. From the catacombs to the Renaissance, Catholic artists have enriched the life of the Church through their gifts. Supporting these artists today continues that tradition and affirms the dignity of the artistic vocation. Choosing AI instead risks undervaluing the human artistry that has always been a vital part of Catholic life.

Our objection to AI-generated images is not just about the extra fingers and expressionless eyes; it's about the lack of humanity in both the artist and the creation. While technical imperfections in AI imagery are certainly concerning when depicting sacred subjects, our deeper concern lies in what is missing from the creative process itself. Sacred art requires not only technical skill but the irreplaceable human elements of faith, prayer, and spiritual devotion. When an algorithm generates an image, there is no artist pouring their soul into the work, no moments of contemplative prayer before the easel, no personal relationship with the divine subject being depicted. The resulting image, however technically proficient, lacks the spiritual authenticity that comes only through human encounter with God—both in the artist's heart and in the creative act itself.  And, in the end, it harms the real artists whose work is subsumed within the AI generative process.

This is not like the arrival of photography in the 19th century, when some believed it would replace painting entirely. At the time, many dismissed photography as a mechanical process that required no artistry, but history proved otherwise. Photography developed its own disciplines, styles, and creative demands, and painting continued to flourish, offering something that photography could not. The difference with AI is that it does not open a new path for human creativity in the same way; instead, it imitates existing human work without the lived experience, prayer, and intentionality that give sacred art its authenticity. Of course, with the advent of digital photography, photography is not what it once was.

Will we get fooled? You bet we will. AI is getting better all the time. Judges, lawyers and litigants are terrified of the problems it will cause. But that only underscores the point we are making here—that an image’s technical quality or realism does not make it sacred. Even if a machine could produce something indistinguishable from a human work of art, it would still lack the living relationship between the artist and God that gives sacred art its meaning. The real danger is not just in AI’s imperfections but in its very perfection, because when it imitates human creativity so well, we might forget that true sacred art is born from a soul in prayer, not from lines of code.

True sacred art springs from the dialogue between God and the artist. It is more than pixels and patterns. It carries the weight of faith, the witness of the human spirit, and the beauty of divine truth. In keeping with Pope John Paul II’s vision, we choose to foster and support human artists whose work can lead the faithful into a deeper encounter with God.

We're certainly not the first to confront this issue.  And we certainly won't be the last.  Some groups are embracing this "revolution", arguing that it "democratizes artistic expression".  That, in itself, is extremely concerning as “democratization” in this context cannot replace the vocation of the artist, the discipline of formation, or the prayerful encounter with God that shapes authentic sacred art. True artistry in the service of the Church is not simply about making the tools available to more people; it is about the slow and deliberate cultivation of skill, vision, and holiness in the artist. AI removes that process entirely, offering output without the interior journey that gives sacred art its depth, reverence, and spiritual authority.

While AI may have its uses, it cannot and should not take the place of the human hand, heart, and soul in creating images of Christ, the Blessed Mother, and the saints. Our mission is to inspire love for Jesus and Mary through beauty that is born from faith, prayer, and human creativity.