People hearing services at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City soon can have the liturgy translated into one of 60 languages by artificial intelligence.
The new service, developed by Vatican officials and artificial intelligence company Translated, will offer the translation on smartphones.
QR codes will be displayed at the entrance and at various points inside the basilica, which takes users directly to a webpage in their mobile browser for audio or written translation, according to Vatican News.
Parishioners won’t need to download an application onto their phones for the translation. Neither Vatican officials nor Translated have specified which 60 languages will be available to users.
The translation system uses Translated’s AI platform Lara, according to Vatican News. The service will be phased in starting next week, according to a release from Translated, and will mainly be used during the major celebrations at the church.
The service, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the basilica’s consecration in 1626, is undergoing testing with groups of worshippers, according to EWTN News.
“In making available a tool that helps many to understand the words of the liturgy, we wish to serve the mission that defines the center of the Catholic Church, universal by its very vocation,” said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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